MPs’ dressing down for sexist bosses
WOMEN staff have been told to dye their hair blonde, wear revealing outfits and constantly reapply make-up, a report into workplace dress codes has found.
A Parliamentary inquiry began following the case of a woman who was sent home without pay for not wearing high heels at work.
Nicola Thorp, 27, was working as a temporary receptionist when she refused to wear shoes with a “2in to 4in heel” last May.
More than 150,000 people signed a petition in support of Ms Thorp, who had just started work at a London finance company.
But a joint inquiry by the Commons Petitions Committee and Women and Equalities Committee found it was far from an isolated incident.
Their report said: “We heard from hundreds of women who told us about the pain and long-term damage caused by wearing high heels for long periods in the workplace, as well as from women who had been required to dye their hair blonde, wear revealing outfits and constantly reapply make-up.
“The Government has said the existing law is clear and that the dress code that prompted this petition is already unlawful. “Nevertheless, discriminatory dress codes remain widespread. “It is therefore clear that the existing law is not yet fully effective in protecting employees from discrimination at work. “We call on the Government to review this area of the law.” Ms Thorp said: “This may have started over a pair of high heels but what it has revealed about discrimination in the UK workplace is vital, as demonstrated by the hundreds of women who came forward.
“The current system favours the employer and is failing employees.
“It is crucial that the law is amended so that gender neutral dress codes become the norm.”
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Far too many employers are still stuck in the past when it comes to dress codes.
“But with employment tribunals costing up to £1,200, many women can’t afford to challenge sexist policies.”