In December last year receptionist Nicola Thorp stepped out her front door in a pair of smart black flats, ready for her first day at a new job.
She was expecting to spend the day answering phones and escorting clients to and from meetings. She certainly didn’t forsee she’d be home by lunchtime.
The 27-year-old London actress, who does temp work to make ends meet, was told her footwear wasn’t appropriate for the corporate finance company, PwC, and that she should go out and buy a pair of two to four inch heels.
(Hear Mia, Mons and Kate de Brito talk about how it’s been a bad week for high heels on Mamamia Out Loud this week. Post continues after audio.)
“When I arrived on site, I was turned away from work because I was not wearing high heels,” she told the Standard.
“I expressed my confusion as to why, and they explained that flat shoes are not part of their dress code for women.
“When I pointed out that my male colleague was allowed to work in flat shoes, and that I felt that I was being discriminated against, I was laughed at. I left feeling upset and confused.”
Thorp explains her situation on the BBC (post continues after video):