UK report: Sexist dress codes common in some sectors

Women routinely forced to wear high heels in jobs where they are on
their feet all day,British politicians find.


A British parliamentary inquiry has found that sexist
 dress codes were rife in some industries in Britain and women were routinely being forced to wear high heels 
in jobs where they were on their feet all day.

The report published on Wednesday said women facing
discriminatory dress codes tended to be young and in low-
paid jobs with precarious contracts, making it difficult for
them to challenge company practices.

Under Britain's equality law, company dress codes must
 make equivalent requirements for women and men, but
 the politicians said breaches of the law were widespread
 in sectors including hotels, travel, temporary work
 agencies, hospitality and retail.

It called on the government to take urgent action,
 including raising financial penalties against employers
 found to be inbreach of the law, and promotion of
 awareness campaigns targeted at companies, workers 
and students.

The politicians set up an online forum for one week in
 June last year, and 730 people came forward with stories.

While high heels were the most prominent issue, the
politicians heard from women who had been required by
companies to dye their hair blonde or wear revealing outfits.

"I came in one morning and my manager was cracking
 down on uniform and informed me that I had to look
 'sexy', which entailed wearing heels," wrote one retail
 worker, who gave her name as Jasmine.

Jasmine complied, but her job involved standing and 
walking all day and she found high heels extremely painful.

"When I asked my manager if it would be OK if I changed 
to flats she replied saying 'What girl can't wear heels?' 
and continued to tell me I was being pathetic," she wrote.

Petition

The parliamentary investigation was prompted by the 
efforts of Nicola Thorp, 27, who refused to wear high
 heels one morning at work and was sent home without pay.

Thorp started a petition against compulsory high heels 
on parliament's website that garnered 152,420 signatures.

 Her rebellion became a national talking-point and prompted the inquiry.

"This may have started over a pair of high heels, but what 
it has revealed about discrimination in the UK workplace
 is vital," said Thorp, commenting on the report.