Now that legislation banning the forced wearing of high heels in the workplace is moving ahead, it seems appropriate to comment on how we got here in the first place.
Operators of pubs and restaurants, and even certain professional organizations, have long exercised the ability to either force or strongly encourage women to wear clothing that might help drum up business. That has generally meant other types of apparel, but high-heeled shoes found their way into the mix.
One could argue how being asked to wear revealing clothing on a regular basis could have long-term detrimental effects. But high heels are the lone item of clothing that can affect one’s physical health if walked around on for extended periods.
Women have worn high heels as a fashion element for decades to spice up their wardrobes, or create a touch of elegance and style to their outward appearance. But there’s a big difference between choosing to wear them and being told by a boss that they must be a part of your regular work apparel.
North American culture today encourages young women and men to try to make themselves appear as physically attractive as possible and often rewards those who succeed. While that scenario is more related to ancient mating rituals, it has tended to pervade work culture.
Patrons of certain local pub-style restaurants commonly encounter well-dressed servers and hosts, often in black as is the current fashion, and often the young women are sporting high heels. The look has become part of the experience of visiting such eateries, as much as good food, enjoying a beverage or watching a game.
Will that experience suffer if these same women are wearing flatter, more comfortable shoes? Absolutely not.
Will these restaurant workers receive smaller tips, assuming they smile just as much, offer the same level of service and the food is of equal quality? We certainly hope diners are less shallow than that.
There are other areas where high heels have been a common part of one’s workplace attire; fashion retailers, for example, where, as with restaurants, staff are on their feet for their entire shift.
For some employers, the change will force them to rethink their dress code policies, whether they’re written or not. For others it will simply be a case of using common sense and thinking a little extra about their employees’ health.