MNHQ here: Have you been made to wear high heels at work?

I used to work for a company where the dress code was usually smart-casual, but every so often clients would come and visit, and that would call for what they termed a "lippy day", where the women were expected to wear full business attire (which is fine) and full make-up (not so great) so that we looked like pretty little PAs. I hated that.

In my current job it'd be easy for them to insist on heels - we are customer-facing, professional environment etc - but thankfully they just want smart shoes. I'd be screwed if they demanded heels; they cause my ankles to dislocate (gotta love EDS). Thankfully I can wear smart black brogues.

I couldn't wear heels even if I wanted to. I've had major surgery on my leg, ankle and foot; heels are now physically impossible for me. This does not affect my ability to think, be creative, work diligently, or to look smart and professional.

I had to wear heels and skirt when I worked for a bank many moons ago. I have the world's smallest squarest feet (size 3 h width fitting) so getting a pair to fit well was impossible,so they rubbed horrendously. I kicked them off under the desk as much as I could but by the end of the first day my toes and heels were both a bleeding mess and I could barely walk. The next day I tried to wear them again and ended up in tears. Fortunately an assistant manager spotted me and realised the problem and I the boss excused me and ib was allowed to wear school type shoes instead.

Years later I was teaching at a school where the female head wanted all staff in the juniors to wear skirts and heels. I was moved from the unnamed to year 3 and wore a smart trouser suit with flat comfotable shoes. I was dragged into her office and hauled over the coals about professional appearance (no heels skirt) the next day I wore a dress and jacket and heels - I had blisters and bleeding get before play time and went to see the h and s rep and we threatened the union. Next day I was back in the trousers and flats.

Some of us just can't wear heels. They don't make them to fit us. And they cripple us.

I even went to a garden party at Buckingham palace in flats and none said anything.

No, but will get my best friend to respond.

She works for a Big 4 firm and was told she had to wear heels for 'client facing work'. She is a senior manager in Counter Fraud.

Seems absolutely fucking archaic, lets be honest! .

pixie thank you so much - they do exist!!

(sorry - will cease derail but I can actually buy wearable smart shoes at a not-ridiculous price! I thought they'd been outlawed!!)

KatieKaboom I'm in software development. Dress standard is very low. We are definitely very professional however!

Seconded burntheblacksuit.

Have been made to wear make-up in a job before, especially customer-facing roles.

Wish this could be petitioned too!

If men feel strongly enough to start a petition objecting to the enforcement of dress codes that require a tie and prohibit the wearing of shorts, good luck to them.

Just because men feel discriminated against in some ways (albeit that I don't accept that wearing heels is actually comparable to those examples), that doesn't mean that discriminating against women in other ways is right!

Cycle gear in the office? My managing partner would burst a blood vessel. (I'd LOVE to see that. )

Pixie - I'm pleased to see that kind of shoe for cabin crew because that actually does look sensible (as well as comfortable). Am even more mystified about the requirement for heels whilst on the ground. I have worked in an office where the opposite logic applied - people would stroll/stagger around in gigantic heels in the office and then have to put on trainers to go to the shop at lunchtime for their sarnie. This was at least all completely voluntary.

I suppose I've been lucky - I've worked in a solicitors firm and although we were expected to dress smartly, heels weren't mandatory (and in fact no one wore them as the building was about 400 years old and all the floors and stairs were uneven) and I then went to the NHS - our dress policy states flat, closed toe shoes. Some office staff wear heels, but it's very rare, most people wear comfy shoes.

www.cabinshoes.com/heels/square-toe-flat

I used to wear these on board for 10 hours plus sometimes. Bloody comfy.

anyone in a suit without customers visiting would be asked 'did you get the job?'

Same with us (IT). I do sometimes wear a dress. I usually just respond with, "who knows?" if asked if I got the job. I don't mind them wondering if I might be looking elsewhere.

I am currently wearing shoes with a heel that's about 1cm; I got them online somewhere, but I can't remember where. (So that's helpful...)

Same as @specialsubject

anyone in a suit without customers visiting would be asked 'did you get the job?'

Yes, get a job in science.

I haven't been asked to wear heels because my chosen career is very casually dressed. I can wear whatever I like to work. I had this conversation with DH today. I think the only standard of dress I object to in the office is swimwear. I don't even have a problem with cycle gear. Both DH and I have people in cycle gear in our office. They don't smell so I don't see a problem with it.

I can't believe people equate ties to heels. I couldn't walk in heels. Even 'sensible' kitten heals. I have no problem wearing a pencil skirts or tights even though I find them very very uncomfortable. I wouldn't choose to wear pencil skirts or tights, but I would refuse to wear heels.

I can't see why I'm not professional looking with a pair of nice flats.

What about those little pygmy hunter chaps who run around on the balls of their feet with their heels off the ground?

You shouldn't really be using your heels when you run anyway - I very much doubt they spend their entire lives without their heels meeting the ground.

What about those little pygmy hunter chaps who run around on the balls of their feet with their heels off the ground?

1cm is about right

Actually "zero drop" or no heel is best, anything else throws your whole body out of alignment.

1cm is about right - dead flat shoes are not good on hard surfaces, and you'll all recognise the ballet flat waddle, only marginally less stupid than the high heel teeter.

Where can you buy smart.shoes with a 1cm heel? I will stock up!

I was told to wear heels in a previous job. I was a permanent member of staff in a high street jewellers. I didn't challenge it as was only 19. Interestingly a male manager took over a year later and was much more reasonable and didn't make us wear heels unless the big boss was in. I used to just change into ballet pumps if I was in pain and change back when I got told off by the manager. I don't feel it was reasonable as we weren't allowed to sit down during the day. However I know various people working in jewellers and all but one of them had the same rule. (We also had to wear a certain denier of tights and matching nail polish and lipstick-thankfully that wasn't enforced but was in our uniform policy)

Cabin shoes are put on once on board. Heels put on again once all passengers off and crew are ready to disembark. The heels are just for waltzing through airports really. My cabin shoes had a 1cm heel. Very comfy and soft leather. It was the commuting through airports and London that made my feet hurt especially as they were usually swollen after flights.

Ironically I've had a few conversations with new hires in private and had to tell them to ditch the high heels because they don't look professional when they can't walk.

As said by the employment lawyer further up it is discrimination to force a female to wear high heels. My employer has a dress code and the only type of shoe you are not allowed to wear are flip flops. Flats are absolutely fine.

What is important is how I present myself and if my employer made me wear heels I would be looking for a new job and before leaving say something.

When I was in my teens I worked part time in 2 High Street fashion chains. Both required me to wear high heels. In a job that involved standing, sometimes in one place for four hours at a time!

I've never been asked to, but the unofficial dress code for women at my company tends to involve very high heels. It's very odd - the men dress quite casually but the women dress more formally, with spiky high heels part of the look. I have osteoarthritis and have to wear very chunky flat shoes - high heels are out of the question. But I genuinely think that it may count against me.