Heels At Work Petition Could Be Debated By MPs

A petition calling for a ban on women being required to wear heels at work has passed 100,000 signatures – meaning it could now be debated in Parliament.

It was brought by Nicola Thorp, 27, who was employed by a temp agency, Portico, to work as a receptionist at PwC's London office.

She says she turned up to work on her first day wearing flat shoes, but was told she needed to wear heels.

When she challenged the policy, she says she was sent home without pay.

The Government’s website says: "Petitions which reach 100,000 signatures are almost always debated.

"But we may decide not to put a petition forward for debate if the issue has already been debated recently or there’s a debate scheduled for the near future."

Portico has now changed its policy.

Managing director Simon Pratt said the firm had "historically recommended plain court shoes for our female colleagues", but added that they "generally allowed plain flat shoes when requested".

He said the firm had changed its policy to allow workers to wear flat shoes depending on their preference.

In a statement, he said: "We are totally committed to being an inclusive and equal opportunities employer, actively embracing diversity and inclusion within all our policies and procedures.

"We are therefore making it very clear that with immediate effect, all our female colleagues can wear plain flat shoes or plain court shoes as they prefer."

PwC said: "We are pleased that Portico has responded to our concerns and is updating its uniform policy with immediate effect.

"PwC places a great deal of emphasis on providing a progressive working environment for all of our people and we feel strongly that this must include third party employees working in our offices.

"We are now reviewing our supplier uniform codes to ensure they are aligned with our own values."

Ms Thorp described her experience to Sky News, saying: "I turned to a male colleague next to me and said: 'He's wearing flat smart shoes. You’re not sending him home'."

Ms Thorp said she had been working for Portico for two years by then, had worn flat shoes, and "no one had ever had a problem with it".

She added: "I understand that businesses have to have dress codes in place, so that their employees look smart and formal, but I just don’t think that in 2016 high heels are essential for a smart appearance of a woman.

"It’s really opening up a dialogue between men and women, and individuals and corporations."