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

[Christine]

So then employers can't force their male employees to wear suits and ties. After all, they don't force the women to wear suit coats and ties, right? So that's discrimination. It has nothing to do with whether ties and suit coats are dangerous, they're requiring men to wear something they don't require women to. Therefore, they're discriminating.

No, no, no. They are not remotely the same comparison. Suits and ties can be uncomfortable (although I'm wearing a women's suit now and it's perfectly fine), but unless you are like the poster above and working on machinery, they cannot cause physical issues. Heels can. I'm not sure why you can't see the difference?

 

[sam_gordon]

No, no, no. They are not remotely the same comparison. Suits and ties can be uncomfortable (although I'm wearing a women's suit now and it's perfectly fine), but unless you are like the poster above and working on machinery, they cannot cause physical issues. Heels can. I'm not sure why you can't see the difference?

Because I'm not responding to a physical issues argument. I'm responding to those who are saying "You can't require women to wear heels and not men. If you do, it's discriminatory." For those using that argument, I'm responding with "You can't require men to wear suit coats and ties. If you do, it's discriminatory."

Whether heels are more "professional looking" than flats is a judgement call. Just because some say flats look fine doesn't mean everyone agrees with them. Personally, I think heels DO look more professional. I know others disagree with that, and that's fine.

 

[fly girl]

Because I'm not responding to a physical issues argument.

That's the entire debate on this thread! Wearing heels for prolonged periods leads to physical issues.


You're debating only that heels look good? Yeah, I agree with you they do.


However basing a dress code on what looks good over the well being of a certain sex is ridiculous. It's well documented, over time heels lead to variety of foot and back issues for a large percentage of women.

 

[rigs32]

Because I'm not responding to a physical issues argument. I'm responding to those who are saying "You can't require women to wear heels and not men. If you do, it's discriminatory." For those using that argument, I'm responding with "You can't require men to wear suit coats and ties. If you do, it's discriminatory."

Whether heels are more "professional looking" than flats is a judgement call. Just because some say flats look fine doesn't mean everyone agrees with them. Personally, I think heels DO look more professional. I know others disagree with that, and that's fine.

A suit for men and a suit for women are equivalent, IMO.

Also, this may sound crass, but by your logic, someone in a wheelchair wouldn't look as professional. Should they also be banned? Is it logical to have someone who uses a wheelchair to wear heels?

 

[Arielle22]

For people in the US, look up Jespersen v. Harrah's Operating Co. Woman was fired by Harrah's after refusing to wear makeup. It was a change in dress code and she refused. The court ruled the dress code placed equal burden on both genders and wasn't discriminatory.

While you may view wearing heels or makeup as discrimination, it isn't illegal discrimination. As for the question of what happens if you can't wear heels, the employer should then enter into discussions to see if reasonable accommodation is warranted.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

For people in the US, look up Jespersen v. Harrah's Operating Co. Woman was fired by Harrah's after refusing to wear makeup. It was a change in dress code and she refused. The court ruled the dress code placed equal burden on both genders and wasn't discriminatory.

While you may view wearing heels or makeup as discrimination, it isn't illegal discrimination. As for the question of what happens if you can't wear heels, the employer should then enter into discussions to see if reasonable accommodation is warranted.

I think that due to the well documented scientific research showing the harmful effects of wearing heels that they would fall under the undue burden placed on one sex criteria.

 

[NYDisGuy]

For people in the US, look up Jespersen v. Harrah's Operating Co. Woman was fired by Harrah's after refusing to wear makeup. It was a change in dress code and she refused. The court ruled the dress code placed equal burden on both genders and wasn't discriminatory.

While you may view wearing heels or makeup as discrimination, it isn't illegal discrimination. As for the question of what happens if you can't wear heels, the employer should then enter into discussions to see if reasonable accommodation is warranted.

You forgot the part where that ruling went to court of appeals and they reversed part of that where they said grooming can be considered sex stereotyping in some circumstances, just not in that case because it was about self image.