When refusing to wear stilettos becomes a valid reason for dismissal... The story seems incredible but true:Being fired for "misdemeanor" of flat shoes. This is what happened to Nicola Thorp, a 27-year-old Englishwoman who was fired from the first day of the London audit firm PcW because she did not wear high heels. Revolting against the use of the heel as a sexist symbol, she then decided to put an online petition on the site of the British Parliament. Launched on May 9, the text which calls for "the repeal of dated and sexist codes" has already collected more than 100,000 signatures. The young woman had already gone to an employee assistance association, which had told her... that an employer could establish his own dress code and impose it!
Nicola Thorp told her story to the English magazine Evening Standard:"When I arrived, I was forbidden to work because I was not wearing heels. I expressed my surprise and they explained to me that flats were not part of the dress code for women" . She then clarified:“the supervisor told me that I would be sent home without being paid if I did not go to a store and buy myself a pair of shoes with 5 to 10 centimeter heels. I refused and he fired me ".
The petition having grown, more than 126,000 signatures currently, the parliamentary debate could be opened. Indeed, after the 100,000 level, Nicola Thorp would be authorized to defend herself before the British Parliament...
