| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 8:58:37 AM | Source The Telegraph
Stiletto heels could be banned from the workplace because of health and safety reasons, according to union bosses.
The motion said: "High heels may look glamorous on the Hollywood catwalks but are completely inappropriate for the day-today working environment." Photo: EPA
The Trade Union Congress, predominantly male, has proposed a motion arguing that high heels are demeaning to women while they also contribute to long term injuries.
They propose instead that women wear "sensible shoes" with an inch heel limit in an attempt to avoid future foot and back pain as well as injuries. The motion is due to be debated at next month's conference.
The motion, tabled by the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, states: "Congress believes high heels may look glamorous on the Hollywood catwalks but are completely inappropriate for the day-today working environment.
"Feet bear the brunt of daily life, and for many workers prolonged standing, badly fitted footwear, and in particular high heels can be a hazard. Around two million days a year are lost through sickness as a result of lower limb disorders.
"Wearing high heels can cause long-term foot problems, such as blisters, corns and calluses, and also serious foot, knee and back pain and damaged joints.
"Many employers in the retail sector force women workers to wear high heels as part of their dress code.
"More must be done to raise awareness of this problem so that women workers and their feet are protected."
Nadine Dorries, the Tory MP, however criticised the motion and said the extra height heels give women can help them when in the workplace.
"I'm 5ft 3in and need every inch of my Christian Louboutin heels to look my male colleagues in the eye," she said. "If high heels were banned in Westminster, no one would be able to find me.
"The TUC need to get real, stop using overtly sexist tactics by discussing women's stilettos to divert tension away from Labour chaos."
Michelle Dewberry, a former winner of The Apprentice, said the motion was patronising.
"This is absolutely ridiculous and I think think these union officials should be spending their time dealing with more important issues," she said.
"I'm at work in five-inch heels and perfectly able to do my job. Heels are sexy, they boost your confidence and they are empowering to women.
"I can't imagine these officials debating a motion about how tightly men should wear their ties. Wearing heels is a personal choice."
So should high heels be banned in the work place then for health and safety reasons?!
If your a woman do you find it patronising that the male led TUC are discussing this?
Or do you agree that high heels are demeaning to women and can cause long term injury?
If your a man do you enjoy seeing a lady in high heels during the course of a days work? | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 9:17:36 AM |
But it's not all bad news. Italian research suggests women who wear up to a 2in heel may enjoy a better sex life.
That's because holding the foot at a 15-degree angle - as with a 2in heel - increases electrical activity in the pelvic muscles that play a vital role in sexual performance and satisfaction.
Amazing what you can read in the Daily Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1053601/High-heel-horrors-The-hidden-cost-body-crucial-extra-inches.html
So the male-dominated TUC may be shooting themselves in the foot by banning high heels? (yea, pun intended) | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 9:21:03 AM | nonsense on the personal injury level - you make your choice and if you are injured as a consequence it's your fault. However stilletto heels do mark many types of floor and could maybe ruled out on that level.
It would be a sad day though, I wear 1.5inch heels to work every day, I wore flat boots in the winter when there was snow and didn't feel right and was told I also didn't look right !! Heels do wonders for the way you feel about yourself IMO, I think it's something to do with the way you tilt your pelvis to walk in them, I'd much rather wear heels thank you very much
^^^^^ edited, I must have been typing as the previous poster was posting, I knew I wasn't mad !! | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 9:23:16 AM | I can't imagine any man banning high heels.
Love wearing them but not on a daily basis, I alternate between the 4" heels and the 2" heels, helps keep the ham-strings stretched.
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 9:23:39 AM | Providing women want to wear them and they don't present a work hazard then they should be allowed to continue.
Do we really need more bureaucrats telling us what we should or shouldn't do?
How about the people of Britain voting on whether to ban the Health & Safety Executive?
(before anyone comments: I accept that Health & Safety has its place and can be positively beneficial - however I feel it sometimes oversteps its powers!). | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 9:23:41 AM | So should high heels be banned in the work place then for health and safety reasons?!
Can't businesses decide for themselves as they are the ones that would have to face the consequences if they the woman is off work and would have to enforce any such ban? Why do they feel the need to get involved?
If your a woman do you find it patronising that the male led TUC are discussing this?
As a man I think they have better things to concern themselves with. It isn't patronising though and I would imagine that it does have its merits but it is completely unrealistic to enforce so what is the point?
Or do you agree that high heels are demeaning to women and can cause long term injury?
A woman's leg undoubtedly looks better in a high heel but few men care about the footwear of a woman and I think a woman would feel demeaned by not being able to wear her shoe of choice.
If your a man do you enjoy seeing a lady in high heels during the course of a days work?
I would enforce tight black trousers and tight jeans and that probably would demean so will leave it there. | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 9:27:30 AM | I think it's going a step too far. Surely people can assess themselves whether certain footwear is a health and safety hazard or not.
To me, flip flops are far more of a hazard, but would I want them banned? No. | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 9:48:46 AM | According to the health and safety at work act it is an employers duty to ensure that there staff are safe. Its all about weighing up the dangers. Not wise i suppose to wear heels on a building site but should be perfectly ok to wear for an ofice job.
But long term use of high heels are bad for your legs too. There is whats known as the calf pump which aids circulation of blood back up the leg. This (due to the angle the foot is at) does not work efficiently when heels are worn
Personally I think women look great in heels and the majority obviously feel great in them.
Also tall people according to a survey are more successful so thats prob a reason why the union feel is such an important issue | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 10:04:55 AM | Heels do make your legs look longer and its nice wearing them but I prefer low heels for work and keep the high ones for nights out. Never wear heels when I'm out with my kids though, they get stuck in the grass 
If women want to wear heels to work then let them ... if they break their ankle on said heels at work then they should accept the blame for wearing the heels. It really does depend on the job you do though. | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 10:06:27 AM |
On occasions of a workplace fire drill, walking down 14 flights of stairs in high heels, quickly, is pretty uncomfortable.
I suppose if there was a fire its better to have an uncomfortable foot or at worse a fractured ankle walking down so many flights rather than being trapped in a burning building - but then maybe a fireman might swoops you up off your feet and bring you to safety | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 10:25:14 AM |
I suppose if there was a fire its better to have an uncomfortable foot or at worse a fractured ankle walking down so many flights rather than being trapped in a burning building
What I mean was that with several hundred people going down many flights of stairs, one woman falling and there would be a pile of people falling and subsequent injuries. But hey - I am always being accused of thinking too much outside the box, so just ignore me  | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 10:33:20 AM |
So should high heels be banned in the work place then for health and safety reasons?
Yes........mine keep touching the exhaust pipe, and making a smell of burning plastic - it puts me off my riding.
Or do you agree that high heels are demeaning to women and can cause long term injury?
I don't like women to wear high heels, as they tend to scratch me in the bedroom.... | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 10:34:25 AM | | It's a personal choice, and the goverment shouldn't make up stupid rules like that. Whats next, there is a law about how you wear your cloth, the cap has to be turned forward or you get 2 months in the slammer? Wearing heels is up to the business and the person who wears them. | |
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sjxx
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Joined: 4/9/2009
Msg: 15 | |
| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 10:41:57 AM | Noo dont ban me from wearing my high heels to work. I need to wiggle around my shop to up my sales. Birkenstocks just dont have the same va va voom. However stilettos SHOULD be banned due to the fact that they are hideous and just too 80s.  | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 11:27:17 AM |
Just out of interest, i wonder where the ambelance chasers would figure in this? Woman slips on a wet tiled floor and shes wearing high heels.
Sounds very familiar, although the heels I was wearing weren't particularly high and I wasn't in work at the time. I slipped on someones (more like the entire pubs) spilled drink on the floor of a club and broke my arm, spent 6 weeks in plaster and even though it wasn't a bad break compared to some, I'm still in pain 18 months on.
Needless to say, all my heels are either now in storage, have been charity shopped or sold on ebay, because unless someone is really confident in heels and even then you might end up falling, it's not worth it. | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 12:01:04 PM |
. I slipped on someones (more like the entire pubs) spilled drink on the floor of a club and broke my arm, spent 6 weeks in plaster
Suppose thats one way of getting plastered on alcohol  | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 1:01:40 PM | I always wear high heels for work. I would feel undressed without them. I love being a girly girl as well as a sporty girl, an artistic girl, a hippy chick and whatever else I feel like!
Do I feel patronised by the TUC? Not at all. I feel that it is a complete waste of time and money though. Surely there are far more important issues for them to discuss! Goodness they will be discussing skirt lengths next
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 1:09:15 PM | 'Confidence boosting an empowering'
... an all from wearing a pair of shoes eh...
Maybe some folk should get a grip an sort out their sh*t....
However any gal wishing to empower me whilst just wearing high heels an maybe a smile then im game... | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 1:14:56 PM |
The motion, tabled by the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, states: "Congress believes high heels may look glamorous on the Hollywood catwalks but are completely inappropriate for the day-today working environment.
I saw this on breakfast telly the other day, the woman behind it looked like a bit of a dyke, you'll all be wearing Doc Martins next if she gets her way. | |
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| Should high heels be banned in the work place?
Posted: 8/8/2009 2:22:41 PM | I think most women (and men if they choose that type of apparel) are more than capable of working out whther their footwear is appropriate to their working environment or not.
Patronising? Yes, it bloody is! | |
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