Firms should be fined for sexist dress rules, MPs say

The Petitions Committee and Women and Equalities Committee have called on the government to enforce legislation to ban sexist dress rules at work.

The report comes after the controversial revelation that a London receptionist was sent home from work for not wearing high heels in December 2015.

The joint report by the two committees, entitled High Heels and Workplace Dress Codes, found that the Equality Act 2010 should ban discriminatory dress rules at work, but maintained that in practice the law is not applied properly to protect workers of either gender.

The report recommends that a publicity campaign should be launched to ensure that employers fully comprehend their legal obligations and better educate employees about how they can complain effectively.

Helen Jones, MP, chair of the Petitions Committee, said: "The government has said that the way that Nicola Thorp was treated by her employer is against the law, but that didn't stop her being sent home from work without pay.

"It's clear from the stories we've heard from members of the public that Nicola's story is far from unique.

The report outlined: “The Equality Act is clear in principle in setting out what constitutes discrimination in law. Nevertheless, discriminatory dress codes remain commonplace in some sectors of the economy.

"We call on the government to review this area of the law and to ask parliament to change it, if necessary, to make it more effective.”