Where do you stand on "High Heels" & The workplace

[rigs32]

I am a trial lawyer. I wear heels in front of a jury 100% of the time as, unfortunately, it can affect their perception of me if I do not. But I wear flats to and from court and change. And I wear flats or flip flops in my office.

I say the requirement is discriminatory when someone cannot physically wear the unnecessary heels but otherwise perform the job. If someone in a wheelchair can perform all tasks of a job, an employer cannot legally refuse to hire them because a customer may not want to see a wheelchair. Same goes for physical limitations regarding heels.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I can't tell you what shoes anyone in my department is wearing right now. I don't look at people's feet.

 

[Christine]

Heals don't always cause injuries. My Mom wore high heals everywhere when I was young...to work in a chem lab...to Disneyland...everywhere...except the beach...until she turned 65 and broke a hip, she was constantly in heels. And you'd hear that clickity-click of the heels where ever she walked. But at the same time, if someone finds them uncomfortable, it would be best not to wear them.

No they don't and there are some lucky folks out there who can wear heels forever. My cousin, age 53, has been wearing stilletos for years and finds them quite comfortable. She also has very sturdy, almost muscular feet with lots of padding on them, and I think that is what saves her from feeling pain.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Your thoughts?
www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/pricewaterhouse

Ummm... that's an invalid link.

 

[Wendy31]

In a professional business setting, heels (even lower heels) look more polished on a woman than do flats - it's just the way it is. Just like a tie makes a man look more professional than just a shirt w/ a collar.

Men & women are different, & that's okay. It's not discriminatory to require professional business dress, knowing that "professional business dress" requires different things for women than it does for men.

My mom wore heels every day 5 days/week (except very infrequently on Fridays) for over 40 years where she worked, & her feet are not ruined. I attended a private school, 1st grade through my senior year, &, at this school, there was a female math teacher who was also the secondary supervisor. She wore heels every day as well, & her feet are not ruined. She retired & then came back to teach a couple of classes, & she still wears heels. In fact, at that same private school, I & many of the other girls wore heels & hose every day (unless it was a ballgame day, & we were in our cheerleading uniforms) too.

My first official job was in a business setting, so I wore heels. When I taught school, I wore very low heels. The male teachers had to wear a tie every day.

I've been a stay-at-home mom for some years now, so I'm not used to wearing heels every day any more. It'd be quite an adjustment for me now!

 

[dotfurio]

There are TWO stories. One has to do with the restaurant chain in CANADA and the other with a temp firm in ENGLAND. The OP's story was about the firm in England.

Here is the video she tried to post:
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/fa...s/news-story/1d81a5bf22c827139318945cc04939f3

It is the same story I posted previously.

My link is also about Nicola Thorp in England....did you even look at it?

 

[amg35]

I honestly can't believe there is anyone on here who would agree with forcing women to wear heels to work! Looks more professional? I don't know any woman who would look at another woman as "unprofessional" if she chose to wear stylish, dressy flats.

Let's be honest, people see heels on a woman as pleasing to the eye, a sign of femininity, which is why I would imagine front of the line workers (receptionists, etc.) would be asked to wear them - gives an attractive first impression. But a requirement? Too far. I'd like to know an intelligent, logical reason why a company (or people here) think that a woman in heels is more professional than a woman in flats - other than "she looks nicer".

Sometimes this message board seems like it's in a time warp.

 

[Christine]

I honestly can't believe there is anyone on here who would agree with forcing women to wear heels to work! Looks more professional? I don't know any woman who would look at another woman as "unprofessional" if she chose to wear stylish, dressy flats.

Let's be honest, people see heels on a woman as pleasing to the eye, a sign of femininity, which is why I would imagine front of the line workers (receptionists, etc.) would be asked to wear them - gives an attractive first impression. But a requirement? Too far. I'd like to know an intelligent, logical reason why a company (or people here) think that a woman in heels is more professional than a woman in flats - other than "she looks nicer".

Sometimes this message board seems like it's in a time warp.

I agree. Now, in my opinion, I think most of my work outfits look better with heels. They just do. And when I have to be somewhere where I want my outfit to look really together, I will put the heels on. Do I look any less professional when I step out of the meeting and move to my flats? Nope, because I have the same professional dress on, hair still done, etc, but I have professional "flats" on now. Does the "flow" of my ensemble look as good? No, it doesn't because the flats tend to shorten the leg, but I still look professional.

 

[wvjules]

Sorry but you can't accept a job knowing the requirements and then decided you don't like them and want them changed. If you don't like the fact that heels, a suit, a tie, short orange shorts, etc. are a requirement of the position, then don't take the position.

 

[Christine]

Sorry but you can't accept a job knowing the requirements and then decided you don't like them and want them changed. If you don't like the fact that heels, a suit, a tie, short orange shorts, etc. are a requirement of the position, then don't take the position.

I think there is an issue, though, when a requirement for a job is proven cause for injury. Heels are for many people. Professional dress does not cause injury. So yeah, don't take a job that requires profession attire when you really want to wear jeans and then get mad. But if I have bunions and plantar fasciitis, I should not get turned down for a job or lose my job because something thinks 2-4 inch heels are necessary to be professional. They aren't and they do cause mechanical problems of the foot. If wearing ties was proven to cause wear and tear on the arteries of the neck due to constant pressure (I know, I made that up!!) then I would think the requirements for wearing a tie would also have to be changed for those who experience issues.

 

[fly girl]

Sorry but you can't accept a job knowing the requirements and then decided you don't like them and want them changed. If you don't like the fact that heels, a suit, a tie, short orange shorts, etc. are a requirement of the position, then don't take the position.

What if you had a foot problem and your doctor told you no heels (i.e. plantar fasciitis or bunions) are you to not apply? That's discrimination.

 

[fly girl]

I think there is an issue, though, when a requirement for a job is proven cause for injury. Heels are for many people. Professional dress does not cause injury. So yeah, don't take a job that requires profession attire when you really want to wear jeans and then get mad. But if I have bunions and plantar fasciitis, I should not get turned down for a job or lose my job because something thinks 2-4 inch heels are necessary to be professional. They aren't and they do cause mechanical problems of the foot. If wearing ties was proven to cause wear and tear on the arteries of the neck due to constant pressure (I know, I made that up!!) then I would think the requirements for wearing a tie would also have to be changed for those who experience issues.

Ha! Thinking same thing at same time!

 

[Poohforyou]

I'm a woman and I agree with Sam Gorden. As long as the policy is fully disclosed prior to accepting the job I don't see the big deal. Personally, I'd take 2" heels any day over pantyhose which I had to wear in the late 90's when I worked in banking in Manhattan. Anyone who's commuted in the summer in those things will understand what I'm talking about. And I sorry but unless you have underlying foot issues 2" heels aren't going to cause long term problems.

I also don't imagine a suit and tie are all that comfortable or you wouldn't see guys loosening their ties as soon as they possibly could.

 

[fly girl]

I'm a woman and I agree with Sam Gorden. As long as the policy is fully disclosed prior to accepting the job I don't see the big deal. Personally, I'd take 2" heels any day over pantyhose which I had to wear in the late 90's when I worked in banking in Manhattan. Anyone who's commuted in the summer in those things will understand what I'm talking about. And I sorry but unless you have underlying foot issues 2" heels aren't going to cause long term problems.

I also don't imagine a suit and tie are all that comfortable or you wouldn't see guys loosening their ties as soon as they possibly could.

It isn't just foot issues though. I have 2 slipped discs in my lower back from years of dance/cheerleading. When I wear heels they can be aggravated.

And I wore pantyhose with wool
in June for my job that didn't bother me as much. It's all personal preference.

I'm not saying go to work in Nike's. But there are many flat heeled shoes that are appropriate.

http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopat...s-library/womens-health/Pages/high-heels.aspx

 

[Poohforyou]

What if you had a foot problem and your doctor told you no heels (i.e. plantar fasciitis or bunions) are you to not apply? That's discrimination.

Yeah. People don't get jobs for all sorts of reasons. If I don't get hired as a flight attendant because I'm not tall enough to close the overhead bins I'm going to accept it and move on. Let's use the discrimination card for people suffering true discrimination.

 

[fly girl]

Yeah. People don't get jobs for all sorts of reasons. If I don't get hired as a flight attendant because I'm not tall enough to close the overhead bins I'm going to accept it and move on. Let's use the discrimination card for people suffering true discrimination.

I'm not saying it's a blatant discrimination issue, but I find it ridiculous that any woman would lose getting a job based on the fact she couldn't wear heels. You don't think that's wrong? You're 100% qualified for the job but due to a dress code of 2" heels you're denied due to a medical condition? Come on. To me that scenaio is insane! It's a SHOE! Why do you feel a woman HAS to wear them to do her job? It's so stupid. You can wear a perfectly appropriate low shoe and perform your job. Please.

BTW, height restrictions at airlines is for safety issues (i.e., not being able to reach the emergency equipment.)

 

[dollarmite]

I compare this lady complaining to the teen who had a tattoo and then complained when Disney said she couldn't work there.

The two aren't remotely comparable. The tattooed teen mad a choice to get a tattoo. It was done of her own free will and not related to being a requirement for getting a job (even if if did end up losing her one; but again, it was related back to something she freely chose to do).

The shoe thing is basically "wear this item that has nothing to do with job performance or you're not hired". That's not in the slightest bit okay.

I have a back problem that is exacerbated by wearing heels. Is the company going to pay for the multiple back massages and the pain meds I'd need to get through every day if I wore heels to work? No, of course not; not to mention why should I have to take pain meds simply to get through the day because of someone's utterly stupid idea of "dress code"?.

So you think it should be ILLEGAL for companies to force women to wear heels?

Of course it should be illegal. I can't believe anyone would think otherwise.

There are some jobs where I think they should be banned altogether as a safety measure. Every time I see a female flight attendant walking around in heels I think how stupid and dangerous they would be in an emergency.

FTR, I had to wear a tie for many years as part of my school uniform. Once it was on it was never noticeable. The same can't be said for those times I decided to wear high heels before realising it just wasn't a good idea.

 

[Poohforyou]

I'm not saying it's a blatant discrimination issue, but I find it ridiculous that any woman would lose getting a job based on the fact she couldn't wear heels. You don't think that's wrong? You're 100% qualified for the job but due to a dress code of 2" heels you're denied due to a medical condition? Come on. To me that scenaio is insane! It's a SHOE! Why do you feel a woman HAS to wear them to do her job? It's so stupid. You can wear a perfectly appropriate low shoe and perform your job. Please.

BTW, height restrictions at airlines is for safety issues (i.e., not being able to reach the emergency equipment.)

No, I don't think it's crazy. People don't get jobs they're qualified for for all kinds of reasons. That's just how it is. This isn't even a blip on my radar.

 

[fly girl]

No, I don't think it's crazy. People don't get jobs they're qualified for for all kinds of reasons. That's just how it is. This isn't even a blip on my radar.

Because you can wear heels!

 

[Poohforyou]

Because you can wear heels!

You're right, I can. Life isn't fair sometimes. I bet there are things you can do that I can't but I'm not going to cry about it.