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MNHQ

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

4 replies

RowanMumsnet · 09/06/2016 10:07

Greetings!

Parliament's Petitions Committee has been in touch to ask whether MNers would like to feed in to its investigation into women being required to wear high heels at work.

The investigation is in response to a petition on the Parliament website asking the government to 'make it illegal for a company to require women to wear high heels at work'. The petition has had nearly 150,000 signatures, and as a result the petitions committee is going to look into the matter more thoroughly.

This is what they say:

"If you've been personally affected by this issue we want to hear from you."

"Your experiences will help us understand the problem. It will also give us an idea of how many people this affects and help us to decide what action to recommend to the Government."

"When sharing your experiences, please include:

  • What were the circumstances that led to you being made to wear high heels? For example: what type of work was involved? Were you a permanent or a temporary member of staff?
  • Did you challenge the requirement? If so, what was the outcome?
  • Did you think that the requirement was reasonable?
  • What does a reasonable work dress code mean to you?"

"Please note that the user name you choose will appear with your comment. Please do not name specific companies/employers in your post."

If you prefer, you can respond directly to the Committee via this link.

Thanks
MNHQ

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MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 09/06/2016 12:03

@BitOutOfPractice

While I think it is outrageous to ask women to wear heels to work, it seems extraordinary to me that they are getting into a lather about this when there are so many other issues around discrimination and inequality every day that seem to be ignored. Is it because it was in the Daily Mail?

In this particular case it's because Parliament has to respond to petitions on its website that get a certain number of signatures - which this one did (measure of strength of public feeling I guess!)

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 09/06/2016 14:17

@ThisPanCan

Mrscog - we've used this a couple of times re other issues, that the Eq. Act is simply not being enforced.

Is it like making a bloke wear a tie? Erm..massively so.

I'm at work now, bloke, wearing DMs and cargo trousers. The very thought that a female colleague may be 'forced' to wear heels against her wish would demand action.

And hi there Rowan - long time no hear! Hope all is well with you.

Alroight there Pan

Slightly off-topic but since fees were introduced for taking cases to employment tribunals, the number of cases has plummeted. The TUC has done research suggesting that cases involving sex discrimination (as well as maternity and pregnancy discrimination) have been particularly affected.

The government is preparing to release a review and recommendations around the issue I think (last thing I heard anyway).

V interested to hear the employment solicitors' POVs though!

MNHQ

FinnMumsnet · 25/01/2017 14:52

Hello,

Parliament's Petitions Committee have been in touch again, and they've asked us to post the following:

“As you may have seen, the report by the Petitions Committee and Women and Equalities Select Committee into high heels and workplace dress codes was published today, revealing the troubling experiences of workers affected by discriminatory dress codes.

The Committees are grateful to all MNers who took the time to share their views. These contributions have been invaluable to our inquiry.

The inquiry was triggered after an online petition started by Nicola Thorp - who was sent home from work for refusing to wear high heels - was signed by more than 150,000 people. The Government has said that the dress code imposed on Nicola was unlawful—but the Committees heard that requirements for women to wear high heels at work remain widespread. Our report concludes that the Equality Act 2010 is not yet fully effective in protecting workers from discrimination.

Our report calls for
· the Government to take urgent action to improve the effectiveness of the Equality Act. It recommends that the Government reviews this area of the law and, if necessary, asks Parliament to amend it.

· more effective remedies — such as increased financial penalties — for employment tribunals to award against employers who breach the law, in order to provide an effective deterrent.
· the Government to introduce guidance and awareness campaigns targeted at employers, workers and students, to improve understanding of the law and workers' rights.

You can read the full report, ‘High heels and workplace dress codes’, including the conclusions and recommendations, on the Parliament website.

The online petition closed with over 152,000 signatures, and will be debated in Parliament on Monday 6 March. You can watch the debate live on the day or catch up with it afterwards at parliamentlive.tv."

Thanks,
MNHQ

MNHQ

AliceDMumsnet · 08/05/2017 13:33

Hello,

Just a quick update for those of you who posted here and signed the petition:

The Government has responded to the report produced by the Petitions Committee and Women and Equalities Select Committee into high heels and workplace dress codes.

The Government has 'undertaken to produce guidance during this summer and to explore other options for raising further awareness of the law on dress codes. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has already run a social media campaign aimed at young women to promote awareness of the law.'

You can read more about this here.

Thanks,
MNHQ

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