So, it’s your first day on the job; your hair is just right; your outfit is just right; your accessories are just right – And since you’re going to be standing for the better part of the day, your flat shoes are just right also – OR SO YOU THOUGHT! That’s how 27yr old Nicola Thorpe felt when she walked into PwC, a finance company in London to work as a receptionist for the firm. According to thewashhingtonpost Nicola thought she was doing a “sensible” thing by wearing flats for her first day on the job as a receptionist and Instead of getting a warm welcome, Nicola was met with snarky remarks and a company policy regarding her flat shoes.
Nicola was told that according to the company’s policy, she had to wear a two-to-four inch heel to work; per thedailybeast they even asked that she go and buy her some heels if she wanted to fulfill her work duties for the day. Nicola stood her ground and refused to abide by the company’s policy, she also pointed out that the “male” colleagues within the office were not required to do the same and didn’t feel she should be required either. Nicola, still refusing to abide by the company’s request was then asked to leave her job and if that wasn’t ill enough, she was also told that she would not get paid for that day as well.
Even though this incident occurred in December of 2015 – It’s Nicola’s petition to the UK that is now making headlines – Nicola is campaigning to make it illegal to force women to wear heels at work, her petition has attracted well over 100,000 signatures which is what was needed to push the issue before parliament.
I was expected to do a nine-hour shift on my feet escorting clients to meeting rooms, I just won’t be able to do that in heels.
Nicola stated that when she asked the company to give her a reason as to why wearing flats would impair her to do her job that day, she said that they couldn’t give her one reason as to why heels were more preferable than flats.
Simon Pratt, managing director at Portico for the PwC finance company stated that the shoes worn on the day did not adhere to a number of style requirements, such as a lack of embellishment and that Ms. Thorpe wasn’t just asked to change her shoes due to the fact that they were not heels, However; he claimed that their firm was “committed to being inclusive and an equal opportunities employer in which actively embraces diversity and inclusion in all of their policies. Since then, the company has put into immediate effect that all of the “female” colleagues within the office can now wear plain flat or court shoes if they prefer.
There have been many studies regarding women and the effect that stiletto heels have not only on their feet but overtime how it affects their spine and back, some women have even been reported as getting Botox shots in their foot just to maintain the “Stiletto Look” for the workplace. As long as it’s decent and nice, women should be allowed to wear whatever shoe they like. What do you think, Do you feel women should be made to wear heels or stiletto’s to the office?…
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