High heels in the workplace

Photo / Babiche Martens

There is a heated debate going on in the UK about, of all things, whether women should have the right to wear comfortable shoes in the workplace.

According to this report by Reuters, the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists passed a motion asking employers to work in partnership with trade unions, staff, and local Health and Safety representatives to ensure that proper risk assessments are carried out, and where high heels are deemed a health risk, replaced with comfortable shoes.

This prompted a depressingly predictable flurry of headlines from the tabloids accusing unions of attempting to ban stillettos in the office. "Women defend right to wear heels as 'kill joy' union bosses condemn stilettos in the workplace" wrote the Daily Mail. The Sun's headline blared: "High Heel Ban Plan Shock" next to a picture of two women in short shorts wearing stilettos.

As the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists pointed out, they weren't asking for a ban on stilettos. The issue was purely about giving women in certain industries the right to say no to high heels in jobs where they are on their feet for a long time. Feet bear the brunt of daily life, and for many workers, prolonged standing, badly fitted footwear and high heels can be a hazard in the workplace, the Society said. It pointed out that wearing high heels can cause long term foot problems, such as serious foot, knee and back pain, and damaged joints.

The Times reported that Conservative Member of Parliament Nadine Dorries tore into the motion, saying it was intended to cut women like her down to size.

"My job is male-dominated, and the men I work with have killer instincts," the newspaper reported her as saying. "I am 5ft 3in and need to wear high heels," she said.

She may think so, but that doesn't mean everyone else should have to. It's hard to see why this proposal is so controversial.

In New Zealand, dress codes sometimes stipulate that high heels are worn, for instance in clothing stores or at make up counters in department stores. However, employers are required to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of their employees, and any dress code is subject to that obligation. If the amount of time a woman is having to spend on heels in the workplace is putting her at risk of injury, the employer will have to do something about it.


Greg Cain

 

Greg Cain is an employment lawyer at Minter Ellison Rudd Watts.

 

 

 

Photo: Babiche Martens