London-based
receptionist Nicola Thorp's complaint against her employers forcing her to wear
high heels and revealing clothing for eight hours during her shift had
triggered a signature campaign that urged the UK government to investigate the
matter. Today, UK MPs found the extent of the health damages discriminating
dress codes bring to UK female employees, and they are drafting a new law to
prevent mandatory dress codes for women.
A study
called "High Heels and Workplaces Dress Codes" revealed the long-term
health damages caused by consistent wearing of high-heels, dyeing their hair
blonde or applying and reapplying make-up -- rules that are part of almost any
employee dress code handbook in London. MPs were keen on introducing
legislation that would tackle such "discriminative" and laborious
practices that male employees could bypass.
According
to Helen Jones MP, "The way Nicola Thorp was treated by her employer is
against the law, but that did not stop her being sent home from work without
pay." UK companies are allowed by law to prescribe dress codes but firms
are not to discriminate against women in formulating the proper dress codes for
their companies.
The UK's
Women and Equalities Committee and Petitions Committee are urging the public
female population to send in examples of discriminatory dress codes, hundreds
of which have already made responses regarding the inflating issue.
