'Blistered and bleeding': Toronto MPP calls for ban on mandatory high heels in workplaces

AToronto Liberal MPP is puttingforward a private member's bill to stop workplaces in Ontario from making high heels mandatory.

CristinaMartins announced the legislation, titledthe "Putting Your Best FootForward Act." at Queen's Park Tuesday.

"After a day's work, women are coming home blistered and bleeding and the lack of adequate foot and ankle support means there is a high risk of more serious, on-the-job injuries," Martins asserted.

• Ontario bill seeks to ban mandatory high heels as part of uniforms

The announcementfollows a CBC Marketplace investigation thatrevealed dozens of female staff at Toronto's top restaurants felt pressured to wear genderedoutfits or risk losing shifts.

• Restaurant dress codes: Sexy outfits for female staff may be discriminatory

Thoseissues prompted a number ofstaff members in Martins's office who worked in the foodand hospitality industry to bring the problem to theMPP's attention, said Alexander Byrne-Krzycki, legislative assistant to Martins.

The conversation grew from there, Byrne-Krzyckisays.

Thebill seeks to reduce the impact of "inappropriate, unsafe footwear" as Martins describesit worn bywomen across all industries.

'From blisters to broken bones'

The Davenport MPP is trying toamendtheOccupational Health and Safety Act to stopemployers from requiring an employee to wear footwear that is "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," the bill reads.

The president of the OntarioPodiatricMedical Association, James Hill, agrees thatwearing high heels can pose a safety risk to the wearer.

"We seea lotof injuriesbecause of heels, from blisters tobreaking a bone," thechiropodist said, calling the bill a "win."

• Women can no longer be forced to wear high heels in B.C. workplaces

British Columbia banned mandatory high heels in the workplace in April.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission issued a policy paper last year on gender-specific dress codes, saying women who work in restaurants and bars should not be forced to wear high heels, short skirts and low-cut tops.

"The "Putting Your Best Foot Forward Act 2017"does not prohibit the wearing of high heels in the workplace. It only prevents workplaces from making them mandatory as part of a dress code," Martins said.

The issue will be debated at Queen's Park Thursday.