UK firm reverses high-heeled shoe policy after backlash

The announcement follows revelations by a London-based receptionist Nicola Thorp who was told to wear shoes with a “2in to 4in heel” when she arrived for work at finance company PwC last December. Thorp, 27, refused and was sent home, leading to her setting up a petition calling for the law on the dress code to be changed, signed by over 50,000 people.

“I was expected to do a nine-hour shift on my feet escorting clients to meeting rooms. I said ‘I just won’t be able to do that in heels’... 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,” she said. 

“I think dress codes should reflect society and nowadays women can be smart and formal and wear flat shoes. Aside from the debilitating factor, it’s the sexism issue. I think companies shouldn’t be forcing that on their female employees,” Thorp added.

The company said the dress code issue involving Thorp at its central London office was “not a PwC policy”.