TUC digs in its heels on sexist dress rules

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The TUC report called on employers to ditch policies banning female workers from wearing "sensible shoes" on duty. As well as being sexist, union chiefs said "inappropriate footwear" leads to long-term foot and back problems.

The TUC refused to identify the firms operating the dress codes but it made plain that at least one "high end" department store in Oxford Street was to blame. Others forcing staff to wear heels included big City institutions and some airlines.

The report "Working feet and footwear" found that a number of big companies insist female staff who deal with the public wear slipon shoes or high heels.

The unions called for staff to be allowed to wear the footwear they felt most suitable, but warned that prolonged wearing of stilettos would lead to health problems. It published a guide for employers declaring: "heels should have a broad base and be no higher than 4cm... if worn for long stretches no higher than 2cm".

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "We were surprised how many times we found employers' dress codes did not permit the wearing of comfortable footwear.

"Heels may look glamorous on the catwalks and on Hollywood stars, but they're not appropriate day-today work wear. These dress codes - apart from being blatantly sexist - can lead to health problems.

"Feet bear the brunt of working life and instead of worrying about what staff look like, employers should focus on the effect the wrong shoes and prolonged standing can have."

The study claims that prolonged standing at work contributes to the "lower limb" disorders suffered by some 200,000 people in the UK.