High heels and workplace dress codes inquiry

Published 21 April 2017.

The Government "welcomes" the Committees' work and recommendations, says the existing law is adequate, and sets out action on guidance and awareness while declining to change penalties or tribunal powers.

• On awareness, it "welcome[s]" the recommendation for a campaign, with the GEO working with Acas, the EHRC and the HSE to "explore options" for raising further awareness. It is "exploring the scope" to extend this to older students.
• It "aim[s] to publish" new employer guidance on dress codes in "summer 2017", and "will consider" the Committees' list of dress code requirements in developing it.
• On legitimate aims, it "will certainly consider" including the suggested aims as illustrative examples in guidance, but does "not favour a prescriptive approach" in legislation, so that courts and tribunals can consider each case's circumstances.
• On penalties and injunctions, it considers the current guidelines "proportionate and fit for purpose", and thinks injunctions by employment tribunals would be "disproportionate".

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