MNHQ here: high heels at work - do you have strong feelings?

[RowanMumsnet]

Some of you may remember contributing to this thread about Parliament's Petitions Committee's inquiry into the issue of women being forced to wear high heels at work.

The Petitions Committee and the Women and Equalities Committee have now issued a joint report into the issue, with recommendations for next steps .

The report is going to be debated in Westminster Hall this coming Monday (March 6 - apologies for short notice) and beforehand there will be a panel discussion. The Petitions Committee would like to encourage any interested MNers to attend - you can sign up via the EventBrite link here.

If you go, do report back and let us know what happens.

Thanks
MNHQ

[Shallishanti]

well, I do have strong feelings but not enough to take a day off work and travel several 100 miles!
It seems a clear breach of equality/employment law to me as requiring a woman to wear high heels is a significant disadvantage and not equivalent to requiring men to wear 'smart' shoes. I accept in some roles employess may need to look smart, they should also be able to be comfortable and not have their freedom of movement compromised. For men, suit, shirt,tie, smart shoes, neat haircut, generally clean. Equivalent for women- suit (trousers OR skirt), top/blouse, smart shoes which can be flat, clean neat hair, generally clean.

[Alice212]

thanks for the link, I can't make it but good to know it's happening.

My feeling is that it is blatantly against the Equality act, like not allowing girls to wear trousers in school.

I also think there are Health and Safety issues, partly due to possible injury or not being able to run if there's a fire or whatever. It's one thing for people to make a choice to wear heels but another thing entirely to have them imposed.