'Inappropriate footwear' at work?

[Babysealion]

I work in high-end retail and am 32 weeks pregnant. My feet have swollen up and it's now uncomfortable for me to wear anything except my Ugg boots.
For the last week at work I have been wearing them along with maternity clothes - the dresses that my company sell no longer fit me, and look hideously skin tight now anyway!
I'm doing 9 and 10 hour days where I am stood on my feet almost constantly.
This morning my manager told me I had to go change my shoes and had to go back to wearing my old black work ones which literally do not fit me. I have been shopping to try and get a bigger size but I don't have a lot of spare money and I can't seem to get any comfortable ones that I don't have to shove my feet into.
Work have told me I am no longer allowed to wear my boots. AIBU to think this is unfair? Or am I being 'entitled' as someone at work so kindly put it?

maybe actual black ballet pumps with elastic?

www.movedancewear.com/en/dance_shoes-basic_split_sole_canvas_ballet_shoe_in_black/1376/?utm_source=google_en&utm_medium=shopping&gclid=CLXl1J_SkbsCFYgKwwodWUUAgA

If you are struggling with the work so much that you can't wear shoes, you may need to have your risk assessment reviewed, to either:

1. change your work to a role where you can sit down

or

1. be signed off sick by the doctor (maternity leave would kick in at 36 weeks)

or

1. be given a 'fit note' specifying what you can/can't do.

Perhaps you could buy some kind of v plain trainer in black?

I agree that M&S are very good for affordable wider fitting shoes.

There's Evans and Next but they are a bit more expensive.

New Look are cheaper and have a small range of wider shoes.
Other places to try include Tesco, Sainsbury, Shoezone, even Primark.

Some of the most appropriate shoes may seem a bit 'frumpy' but it's worth it to get smart black work shoes that don't get you in trouble!

I had this problem when I had to buy shoes that covered the 'entire front of my foot' for my nursing job - luckily I found a pair (complete with Velcro fastenings how glam) in M&S for about £30.

Merry they won't last 5 minutes. They are split sole for a start & will wear through in a hole quickly if worn normally. Full sole leather would be more hard wearing but they are not meant to be worn outdoors at all & not meant to e walked around in.

I was told to wear my uggs (real ones, proper leather with support) to work when I had a nasty fall at work, so I don't agree that they are inappropriate all the time (premium dining, so probably similar client base to op), but then again i have very strange employers!
The real issue is your maternity risk assessment hasn't been updated to reflect your needs, and that needs to be addressed ASAP. they should be allowing for breaks and time off your feet to reduce the swelling, if necessary as your midwife/gp to write a statement of fitness detailing this. I had to do thisas work were unsympathetic, but ultimately it enabled me to work longer during my pregnancy than I would have been able to had I not, so they saw the benefits and made the changes.

I found crocs ballet pumps were fantastic for swelling, provided adequate support and good grip on slippy floors. Not very glam but can be worn with dresses or hidden with wide legged trousers. I preferred these to wearing my boots as I felt HUGE when pregnant and wanted to show off my ankles- even hideously swollen they were still the slimmest part of my body!

OP

I have quite wide feet (not the same as swollen I know) but I' a size 5 and boys shoes go up to size 5, I find boys school shoes are supportive but wider.

Talk to your manger about what they will and will not accept.

Something like this would look smart enough for work

www.clarks.co.uk/p/20354811

Not sure if I maybe missed it - but New Look do wide fit shoes. I know they're not the most hard wearing shoes but for only eight weeks you might find something that suits you at a fairly reasonable price.

Babysealion, I've linked a few different styles for you (cheap). I went for low heel/wedge/platform as they probably give a bit more support than ballerina style flats. I know straps are shit when your feet are swollen, but you can modify the straps with extra elastic (I hated wearing shoes I had to make an effort to keep my feet in).

Uggs are rubbish for support so I would say they are inappropriate to wear all day (nothing to do with how they look). I do think it's probably the right time now for work to re-asses your working conditions - the last weeks are the worst for swelling up when you're on your feet too long; hope you find something!

Mary-Jane style flatforms

Mary-Jane style low court shoes

Round toe low wedge

What about these?
www.clarks.co.uk/p/20351813
K shoes are a wider fitting

I have slippers under my desk at work

I think your employer is BU but plenty will disagree with me.

New look have a wide feet range. Most of the big branches seem to have at least a full wall of wide fit. They have plenty of smart enough looking flats and the prices are cheap. I got some really comfy ones there for about £15.

Asmallandnoisymonkey, I was going to suggest New Look too. I have very weird feet with extra bones and what not and they make some of the comfiest shoes on the high street.

They are also very reasonably priced and often have a sale on. I got a gorgeous pair last week for a tenner.

Why should OP have to buy another pair of shoes if she's only going to need them for a few more weeks?

OP, if the UGGS are comfy, save your money and continue to wear them.

What does it matter what her footwear looks like? The employer can only expect her to wear a type of look, if they're willing to provide it at this stage.

Babysealion I just wanted to say as someone who is a bit more Oregon than you- I full understand. I can literally only fit into my uggs and one pair of black boots (just) and my uggs are by far the most comfortable things to wear. I really don't blame you!

Oregon? Preggo! Bloody spell check

She works in high end retail, though. Her appearance is an essential aspect of the role. She's representing the brand image. That's usually an expectation of staff working in customer facing jobs for luxury brands, and I would imagine it's spelled out very clearly in their terms and conditions.

New Look gave wider fit. Primark might do the job for you for short term shoes.

How swollen are they OP? Mine were horrendous and I wore only flipflops. Be careful. Are you sure you should still be working at all?

Should add that I have every sympathy with the OP, having suffered badly in both pregnancies with mobility issues - just saying that it's a tricky one in terms of telling management to deal with it.

Maybe post on Employment issues? Flowery is an employment lawyer and could offer some guidance on this issue - not sure if need to make reasonable adjustments could be argued? See what she says maybe?

Very swollen feet plus gaining four stone meant I had massive feet by the end of my pregnancy. I went up a size and ended up I K shoes from Clark's as they do my EE fitting. Next now do "extra wide" which is also EE. I think M&S only do an E.
Get slip ons rather than anything with a buckle or laces or anything as it saves bending.

Take in a doctors note. I worked in retail and have plantar fasciitis. They let me where black trainers when I took in a doctors note.

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