The joint Parliamentary Committees’ report on high heels and workplace dress codes was published on 25 January 2017. The report made nine recommendations about discriminatory dress codes in the workplace. The Government has responded to each of the recommendations, with the key responses being as follows:

• Adequate redress and sanctions are available for breaches of discrimination law in the Equality Act 2010 for job applicants and employees, but it is accepted that awareness of the law among employers and employees is patchy and there are bad employers who knowingly flout the law.
• The Government accepts it can do more to raise awareness and knowledge of employees’ rights and employers’ responsibilities and is working closely with Acas, the EHRC and the HSE to produce detailed guidance for employers, to help them to understand how discrimination law and health and safety law apply to all aspects of workplace dress codes.

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