Should Employers Be Able to Force Employees to Wear High Heels?

it's their business and they're paying employees on their own terms

TurtleDude said:

uh what sort of job requires a dude to wear high heels? a RuPaul stunt double?

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I don't know but I aint wearin' 'em :lol:

If employers have a standard that they want their employees meet, in this case how they dress, that's their right to do so because it's their business. If they require male workers to shave their beards off, and those male workers want to work at that place of business, that's also permitted. The person that writes the paychecks has the final word on what workers can and can not do.

Herkamer63 said:

If employers have a standard that they want their employees meet, in this case how they dress, that's their right to do so because it's their business. If they require male workers to shave their beards off, and those male workers want to work at that place of business, that's also permitted. The person that writes the paychecks has the final word on what workers can and can not do.

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What if the employer required a 20 pound helmet on your head just for aesthetic reasons. And people get blown out necks? The empoloyer pays for it right? And after 10 blown out necks they are probably going to get sued for negligence. What about drinking coffee every day. Like some coffee company requires the employees to drink 3 cups a day to promote and they end up getting systemic high blood pressure.

Waddy said:

My son has back problems from wearing all the equipment he was required to carry as a police officer. Quite a few police officers end up with back problems. If we're making a list of things associated with work that can cause health issues it will be a long list indeed.

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Really ? Back, knee, hip, etc problems are far more related to weight problems and or a lack of exercise than anything else.

In my case its related to height, and thats related to genes. Me, my father and my uncles are all over 6'5" and we all started experiencing the same symptoms at around the same age even though we were all thin and in good health

Police officers like so many other proffessions tend to live sedantary lives, and that means they put on a lot of weight over the years.

If they dont take care of themselves then thats on them, not on their employers

dirtpoorchris said:

What if the employer required a 20 pound helmet on your head just for aesthetic reasons. And people get blown out necks? The empoloyer pays for it right? And after 10 blown out necks they are probably going to get sued for negligence. What about drinking coffee every day. Like some coffee company requires the employees to drink 3 cups a day to promote and they end up getting systemic high blood pressure.

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If that's what the employer wants and you're working for that guy, yes, as ridiculous as your example may sound. These employees know what they're signing up for when they go in. Employers can say what can and can not wear, pay what they want to pay, and decide what the rules are because they write out your paychecks. If you knowingly signed up for a job with a bad employer, that's your fault, not his/hers. Everyone has a choice.

Fenton said:

Really ? Back, knee, hip, etc problems are far more related to weight problems and or a lack of exercise than anything else.

In my case its related to height, and thats related to genes. Me, my father and my uncles are all over 6'5" and we all started experiencing the same symptoms at around the same age even though we were all thin and in good health

Police officers like so many other proffessions tend to live sedantary lives, and that means they put on a lot of weight over the years.

If they dont take care of themselves then thats on them, not on their employers

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My son has always been healthy, and not overweight. He works out. He's 6'2" and weighs about 195. But he was also an infantry officer an did a tour in Iraq. It's common for infantrymen to develop back (and knee) problems. But his back problem didn't show up until he was on the police force several years later. The back specialist he went to told him the weight of the police equipment and riding around in a patrol car all night wasn't good for his back. He would have preferred wearing his police equipment on a vest like he did his military equipment in Iraq as the weight was mostly off his hips. He quit the police force later on and is now a public school principal. His back problem has cleared up except for an occasional flare-up, sort of like any of us might get. BTW; there is a movement in law enforcement to go with "soft" equipment which weighs much less and molds to the wearer much better.

getting back to the high heels issue; if there is a good reason the employer needs the employee to wear high heels then they should be allowed to require that, and if an employee isn't willing to do that they should seek employment elsewhere. I advised my son that wearing the police equipment in the proscribed manner was just part of the job, and he knew that when he signed up. He didn't quit because of the equipment; he wanted a more normal schedule and holidays off to spend with his growing family. Cop schedules can be very unpredictable. Few people realize how police work makes demands on your off time. It was common for him to be held over 4 hours on a shift, work holidays, etc. He couldn't commit to buying concert or ball game tickets ahead of time because he never knew if he would be required to come in extra on that date. Early on he missed a lot of his older kids ball games and school events. Now that problem has pretty much gone away.

Fenton said:

Really ? Back, knee, hip, etc problems are far more related to weight problems and or a lack of exercise than anything else.

In my case its related to height, and thats related to genes. Me, my father and my uncles are all over 6'5" and we all started experiencing the same symptoms at around the same age even though we were all thin and in good health

Police officers like so many other proffessions tend to live sedantary lives, and that means they put on a lot of weight over the years.

If they dont take care of themselves then thats on them, not on their employers

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I wonder what routines those with back problems have, vs those who don't, with regards to working out - I think it'd be interesting to see statistical analysis, and see if those who work out regularly doing things like squats, bench, and deadlifts (properly, with good form) are in a better position than those who don't, etc. I'd imagine those who keep in shape doing strength training would be able to handle continuously holding that weight more than those who don't.

NO , but not hell no !
I think high heels are necessary in some places, but, like bedroom slippers , should not be worn outside - not practical .

Employers can't 'force' employees to do anything but, no, they should not be allowed to require employees to wear high heals or get piercings or tattoos. Basically anything that can cause permanent injury or disfigurement.

High heals look stupid anyway and cause ugly bunions. Flat-soled sandals look better and normal-looking feet are sexier.