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Bar's advert for 'extremely attractive' staff prompts anger

The new Shoreditch jazz bar also specifies that female applicants 'must be comfortable wearing heels'

Rachael Pells
Education Correspondent
Wednesday 26 July 2017 12:33 BST
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Th job advertisement for London waiters was removed from the recruitment website following complaints
Th job advertisement for London waiters was removed from the recruitment website following complaints

A job advert for a new London bar has sparked outrage for requesting only “extremely attractive” staff to apply.

Posting vacancies for £10-an-hour waiting jobs, the unnamed Shoreditch jazz bar stated: “Physical attractiveness is unfortunately necessary for this role”.

Along with a minimum of one year’s experience and a “fun, lively attitude”, the advert, found on employment website Reed.co.uk, also specified that that female applicants “must be comfortable wearing black heels” for full-time waitressing.

Responding to the advert after it was shared on social media, Twitter users said the advertisement was “discriminatory” and “unacceptable in every way” and the post was later removed from the website.

Actress and equality campaigner Nicola Thorp drew attention to the advert, telling Reed.co.uk it was “in breach of an Equality Act or two”.

Ms Thorp made national headlines last year after she was send home from her receptionist job for not wearing high heels.

She launched a petition urging the Government to make it illegal for companies to force female employees to wear heels in the workplace, but the appeal was rejected in April this year.

Current employment law states companies must not state or imply that they will discriminate against an individual or group of people.

While there are laws preventing employers from requesting photographs from applicants, it is not always illegal – for instance modelling agencies can ask to see a model’s portfolio.

Responding to complaints about the ad, Reed.co.uk said the job had been removed and that the company had “contacted the recruiter to look into the issue further.”

A spokesperson said: “At reed.co.uk, we take our responsibilities as a recruitment advertising platform, used by thousands of jobseekers every day, extremely seriously.

“As such, we have a number steps in place to ensure jobs advertised with us comply with all appropriate legislation, are non-discriminatory and, of course, genuine.

”Clearly, in this instance, an advertiser has used inappropriate language in their posting and so details of the vacancy have been removed whilst we work with them to ensure they are made fully aware of relevant legislation affecting their recruitment.“

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