This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39178911

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
High heels row: MPs 'shocked' by women's dress code stories High heels row: MPs 'shocked' by women's dress code stories
(35 minutes later)
An inquiry into work dress codes has exposed "widespread discrimination" against women, MPs have said.An inquiry into work dress codes has exposed "widespread discrimination" against women, MPs have said.
The investigation was prompted by a petition, being debated by MPs, that called for a ban on requiring women to wear high heels at work.The investigation was prompted by a petition, being debated by MPs, that called for a ban on requiring women to wear high heels at work.
MPs said they were "shocked" by stories submitted as part of the inquiry, which included one case of a woman who had been told to dye her hair blonde.MPs said they were "shocked" by stories submitted as part of the inquiry, which included one case of a woman who had been told to dye her hair blonde.
The government has said no employer should discriminate on gender grounds.The government has said no employer should discriminate on gender grounds.
Work dress codes "must be reasonable", it said.Work dress codes "must be reasonable", it said.
More than 152,000 people signed the petition set up by Nicola Thorp, from London, after she was sent home from her temp job when she refused to wear shoes with a "2in to 4in heel".More than 152,000 people signed the petition set up by Nicola Thorp, from London, after she was sent home from her temp job when she refused to wear shoes with a "2in to 4in heel".
It is being debating in Parliament because it reached more than 100,000 signatures. It was debated in Parliament because it reached more than 100,000 signatures.
Helen Jones, who chairs the Petitions Committee, said : "It is fair to say that what we found shocked us.Helen Jones, who chairs the Petitions Committee, said : "It is fair to say that what we found shocked us.
"We found attitudes that belonged more [to the] - I was going to say 1950s but probably the 1850s might be more accurate - than the 21st Century."We found attitudes that belonged more [to the] - I was going to say 1950s but probably the 1850s might be more accurate - than the 21st Century.
"[The inquiry] has exposed widespread discrimination against women, stereotypical views of what women should look like and dress like and behave like."[The inquiry] has exposed widespread discrimination against women, stereotypical views of what women should look like and dress like and behave like.
"It's shown up out-dated attitudes towards women in the workplace, and it has shown that constantly women are belittled when they try to challenge those attitudes.""It's shown up out-dated attitudes towards women in the workplace, and it has shown that constantly women are belittled when they try to challenge those attitudes."
She said there was a "long way" to go to solve the problems, but "everyone in the workplace deserves better than this".She said there was a "long way" to go to solve the problems, but "everyone in the workplace deserves better than this".
The committee published its findings in a report in January, which said hundreds of women had shared their stories. Speaking in the same debate, Labour's Gill Furniss said her daughter had suffered a metatarsal fracture having had to wear high heels in a retail job.
Women had told the committee about the pain and long-term damage caused by wearing high heels for long periods in the workplace, about requirements to wear revealing outfits and to constantly reapply make-up, it said. "Quite literally adding insult to injury, she was denied any compensation or sick pay as she wasn't on the payroll for long enough," she added.
Long-term damage
The committee published its findings in a report in January, which said hundreds of women had shared their stories about the pain caused by wearing high heels for long periods, requirements to wear revealing outfits and constantly reapply make-up.
It said discriminatory dress codes were "widespread" and the existing law was "not yet fully effective in protecting employees from discrimination at work".It said discriminatory dress codes were "widespread" and the existing law was "not yet fully effective in protecting employees from discrimination at work".
The petitions committee called on the government to review the law and to ask Parliament to change it if necessary, to make it more effective. The petitions committee called on the government to review the law and to ask Parliament to change it if necessary, to make it more effective.'
It also recommended that the government "substantially increases" the penalties available to employment tribunals to award against employers, including the financial penalties. 1970s diktat'
It said such penalties were not a "sufficient deterrent" to breaking the law. It also recommended that the government "substantially increases" the penalties available to employment tribunals which find against employers.
The government has previously said: "No employer should discriminate against their workers on grounds of gender. For the government, Equalities Minister Caroline Dinenage urged employers to review dress codes and make "dodgy 1970s workplace diktats" a thing of the past.
"We expect employers to act in accordance with the law, which is clear that dress codes enforced by employers must be reasonable and include equivalent requirements for both men and women. She has written to key trade bodies about the "outdated and sexist employment practices" uncovered in this case.
"We welcome the opportunity to debate this issue, which is clearly of importance to a large number of people." She said: "We have had anti-discrimination laws in this area for more than 40 years, yet it is a safe bet that these sort of dress codes have existed under the radar, with female employees putting up with discrimination because that is the way things are.
"Shod in heels or flats, we are collectively putting our foot down and attitudes are changing.
"This petition has brought that change very clearly into the public domain."
Women should not be expected to wear things that caused discomfort or expense that a male colleague would not, she added.
"I must reiterate that the government utterly condemns such dress requirements where their effects are discriminatory."