Canadian province makes it illegal for employers to demand women wear high heels at work
Employment experts say a broader discussion is needed about the pressures faced by women to spend more time and money on their looks than men
The provincial government in British Columbia, Canada, has amended workplace legislation to prevent employers to force women to wear high heels at work.
BC Green Party leader Andrew Weaver filed a private member’s bill in March “designed to prevent employers from setting varying footwear and other requirements based on gender, gender expression or gender identity”.
The most critical part of an employee’s footwear is that it is safe
Rather than adopting Weaver’s bill, the BC government instead amended footwear rules under the province’s 1996 Workers Compensation Act, which did not mention high heels.
“In some workplaces in our province, women are required to wear high heels on the job. Like most British Columbians, our government thinks this is wrong. That is why we’re changing this regulation to stop this unsafe and discriminatory practice,” said BC premier Christy Clark.
“[A mandatory high-heel dress code] is a workplace health and safety issue. There is a risk of physical injury from slipping or falling, as well as possible damage to the feet, legs and back from prolonged wearing of high heels while at work.”
The minister for labour, Shirley Bond, acknowledged Weaver for starting the process.