Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
A London receptionist refused to wear heels and was dismissed from her job. Now she’s petitioning... [View all]
Source: Washington Post
A London receptionist refused to wear heels and was dismissed from her job. Now she’s petitioning Parliament.
By Ben Guarino May 12 at 7:39 AM
When Nicola Thorp showed up at PwC, a finance company in London, late last year, she was wearing flats — what she thought were smart, sensible shoes for her first day on the job as a receptionist.
But the 27-year-old temp worker was told by PwC that she would have to put on something a little taller. Specifically, footwear with 2- to 4-inch heels.
Thorp refused, countering she’d have to spend the day on her feet. “I said ‘I just won’t be able to do that in heels’,” Thorp told BBC Radio London in an interview Wednesday. “I said ‘if you can give me a reason as to why wearing flats would impair me to do my job today, then fair enough’, but they couldn’t.”
When she pointed out that men wouldn’t be expected to do the same work in heels, she says her new colleagues laughed at her and dismissed her from work without pay.
Portico, the outsourcing company that had hired Thorp for the PwC job, argued she had agreed to a dress code. It later told the BBC that, “with immediate effect all our female colleagues can wear plain flat shoes.” PcW said that such heels were not a part of its rules, the BBC also reported Wednesday.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
By Ben Guarino May 12 at 7:39 AM
When Nicola Thorp showed up at PwC, a finance company in London, late last year, she was wearing flats — what she thought were smart, sensible shoes for her first day on the job as a receptionist.
But the 27-year-old temp worker was told by PwC that she would have to put on something a little taller. Specifically, footwear with 2- to 4-inch heels.
Thorp refused, countering she’d have to spend the day on her feet. “I said ‘I just won’t be able to do that in heels’,” Thorp told BBC Radio London in an interview Wednesday. “I said ‘if you can give me a reason as to why wearing flats would impair me to do my job today, then fair enough’, but they couldn’t.”
When she pointed out that men wouldn’t be expected to do the same work in heels, she says her new colleagues laughed at her and dismissed her from work without pay.
Portico, the outsourcing company that had hired Thorp for the PwC job, argued she had agreed to a dress code. It later told the BBC that, “with immediate effect all our female colleagues can wear plain flat shoes.” PcW said that such heels were not a part of its rules, the BBC also reported Wednesday.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/05/12/temp-receptionist-in-london-refused-to-wear-2-to-4-inch-high-heels-and-was-dismissed-from-her-job-now-shes-petitioning-parliament/
____________________________________________________________
Source: BBC
London receptionist 'sent home for not wearing heels'
11 May 2016 London
A London receptionist was sent home from work after refusing to wear high heels, it has emerged.
Temp worker Nicola Thorp, 27, from Hackney, arrived at finance company PwC to be told she had to wear shoes with a "2in to 4in heel".
When she refused and complained male colleagues were not asked to do the same, she was sent home without pay.
Outsourcing firm Portico said Ms Thorp had "signed the appearance guidelines" but it would now review them.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
11 May 2016 London
A London receptionist was sent home from work after refusing to wear high heels, it has emerged.
Temp worker Nicola Thorp, 27, from Hackney, arrived at finance company PwC to be told she had to wear shoes with a "2in to 4in heel".
When she refused and complained male colleagues were not asked to do the same, she was sent home without pay.
Outsourcing firm Portico said Ms Thorp had "signed the appearance guidelines" but it would now review them.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-36264229
95 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read