Effective January 1, 2019, employers in Alberta can no longer require workers to wear footwear that may pose a health or safety risk to workers. This change was made by way of an amendment to Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code. While the legislation does not specifically mention high heels, the amendment effectively means the end of mandatory high heel policies sometimes seen in the hospitality industry and follows similar legislative changes in other provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba. The amendment can be found here (page 956).
About Cristina Wendel
Cristina advises and represents employers in all aspects of occupational health and safety matters, including day-to-day compliance, incident response, investigations and defending employers charged with occupational health and safety offences. She also represents federally and provincially regulated, unionized and non-unionized employers in a variety of employment and labour law matters such as wrongful dismissal claims, employment standards disputes, human rights issues, labour arbitrations and labour relations board proceedings.
RELATED POSTS
New Requirements for BC Joint Health and Safety Committees
Ontario taking steps to implement GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals), amend WHMIS requirements
The Ontario Ministry of Labour is proposing amendments to safety laws as part of a broader national and international initiative […]
Threats are “Violence” Post-Bill 168: Firing of Long-Term Employee Upheld
Workplace threats are now “violence” in Ontario and justify strong discipline, the decision of an Ontario arbitrator suggests. Bill 168 […]