Health over heels

By Torcia Velthuizen

It is not unusual to see women hobbling in painful high heels in many parts of the service industry. However, if Bill 168, the Putting Your Best Foot Forward Act passes, employees will no longer be required to wear unsafe footwear.

The bill amends the Occupational Health and Safety Act to prohibit employers from making their employees wear shoes that are “not appropriate to the protection required for the employee’s work or that does not allow the employee to safely perform his or her work,” according to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Latifa Charbonneau, a waitress in Chatham, said she has worn high heels to work before, which caused foot pain. She also said she wore them because they made her stand out, but she feels there could be a double standard in mandating heels in a uniform.

“I would find it unfair if men weren’t forced to wear equally uncomfortable shoes,” said Charbonneau.

MPP Mitzie Hunter spoke during the second reading of the bill on Oct. 19.

“Sometimes there are things that look very obvious to us. Why do you have to have legislation to prohibit requiring women to wear high heels to work? It doesn’t seem as if it’s something that you should have to do. It doesn’t seem as if that should be necessary,” said Hunter.

“But do you know what? It is necessary. There are workplaces and places that require women to wear high heels to provide a service, and that doesn’t seem fair. It doesn’t seem that that is the kind of equity in the workplace that you would want or would expect,” said Hunter.

Charbonneau said she also believes wearing heels at work can lead to accidents.

“There’s a greater chance of being injured from a slip and fall. These are risks that one should take on of their own accord. No one should ever be forced to take those risks,” said Charbonneau.

The potential for an accident is not the only trouble associated with wearing heels. Over time it can lead to many other health problems.

“If you wear heels constantly it messes with your posture. It pushes your lower back out and throws your spine out of alignment,” said Laura Gascoyne, nursing student and personal support worker at Saint Elizabeth health care. “This can lead to Lordosis, which is an excessive curve in the spine.”

Bill 168 has been referred to a standing committee.