Nicola Thorp: Actress 'overwhelmed' as high heels petition passes 100K mark

Outraged: Actress Nicola Thorp
Hatty Collier12 May 2016

A receptionist sent home from work for refusing to wear high heels was celebrating today after her petition demanding a change in workplace rules reached 100,000 signatures.

Actress Nicola Thorp, who was employed as a temporary worker by PwC’s outsourced reception firm Portico, launched her campaign after being told to leave on her first day when she turned up in flat shoes.

The 27-year-old’s government petition calling for a ban on employers forcing women to wear heels reached the 100,000 mark this afternoon meaning it will now automatically be considered for debate in parliament.

Portico has also pledged to scrap its high heels policy following accusations its dress code was sexist.

Speaking after the petition reached the milestone, Ms Thorp, from Hackney, told the Standard: “I’m absolutely overwhelmed.

Popular cause: Nicola Thorp
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“It’s amazing to see how huge this has become and how many other women have been affected in similar ways and discriminated against in the workplace.

“Reaching the 100,000 signatures opens this up to a much bigger debate on what the industry standards on women’s appearance should be.”

The online petition demands that the Government “make it illegal for a company to require women to wear high heels at work”.

A House of Commons spokeswoman said: “In general, the Petitions Committee will consider all petitions that have received 100,000 signatures by this Friday afternoon, at its subsequent meeting.

“The Committee meets on Tuesday afternoons and will next meet on Tuesday 24 May. Most petitions that reach 100,000 signatures do have a debate.

“Whilst a decision isn’t made on the day of a petitions debate, it is an opportunity for the topic to be raised in the House, allowing MPs to debate the issue.

“The onus will then be on the Government to take any action if they so choose. Individual MPs might also take up the cause and seek to progress it themselves through the methods available to them."

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