Union members at a conference in Liverpool, England, passed a motion this week that calls on employers in Britain to allow women to wear "comfortable shoes" instead of high heels in the workplace.

The motion, tabled at an annual meeting of the Trades Union Congress, an organization that represents 58 unions in Britain, says employers should work with unions, staff, and local health and safety representatives to carry out "proper risk assessments" on footwear, and if high heels are deemed to be a health risk, then women should be able to wear sensible shoes.

Lorraine Jones, a podiatrist from the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, told delegates to the congress on Tuesday that some women, including flight attendants, are required to wear high heels while on the job because of the dress codes in their workplaces. She said the high heels requirement does not apply to men.

According to a report by BBC, Jones said: "We are not trying to ban high heels. They are good for glamming up, but they are not good for the workplace. Women should have a choice of wearing healthier, more comfortable shoes."

Jones said the problem is not trivial, and because high heels can cause foot, knee and back problems, they have an impact on the workplace in terms of sick days.

"Feet bear the brunt of daily life, and for many workers prolonged standing, badly fitted footwear, and in particular high heels can be a hazard in the workplace. Around two million days a year are lost through sickness as a result of lower limb disorders," the motion reads.

"High heels may look glamorous on the Hollywood catwalks but are completely inappropriate for the day-to-day working environment."

Eddie Saville, director of the society's employment relations department, said the issue is worthy of discussion.

"This is a serious issue for women in the workplace, and we at the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists want to ensure women workers are never forced to wear high heels, which we believe can lead to foot health problems in short, medium and long term."

But one trade unionist, in anticipation of the tabloid response to the discussion, begged to differ. According to the BBC, Loraine Monk, a delegate to the congress, said: "This well-meant motion will see the union movement portrayed in the media as the killjoy fashion police. Why is it only aimed at women?

"We should list all inappropriate dress in the workplace, not pick on something that is symbolic of a much wider debate about gender roles and is something that many women have a particular view about — both for and against," Monk said.

The motion states that high heels can cause long-term foot problems, such as blisters corns and calluses, as well as foot, knee and back pain, and damaged joints.

"More needs to be done to raise awareness of this problem so that women workers and their feet are protected," the motion says.