Photo of female server's bloody feet highlights restaurant's unfair uniform policy
In this restaurant, being a female server is a one-way ticket to bleeding feet.
Nicola Gavins, a makeup artist in Alberta, Canada, shared a photo of her friend's blistered toes, cut up from the high heels she wears as part of her server's uniform.
The woman's socks are soaked through with blood, but she has to keep wearing the injurious pumps — or she could lose her job at a JOEY restaurant in Edmonton.
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"Their [the restaurant's] policy is still that female staff wear heels unless medically restricted," Gavins wrote on Facebook. "My friend's feet were bleeding to the point she lost a toenail and she was still ... berated by the shift manager for changing into flats."
Despite her injuries in the photo, Gavins' friend was also told that she'd still have to wear heels the next day.
Gavins also slammed the restaurant for charging women $30 for a specific uniform while allowing men to wear all-black clothing of their choice.
"I have many friends in the service industry and know loads of ladies who earn great tips without having to sacrifice their comfort while serving," she wrote. "I'll choose to continue supporting those establishments."
According to a spokesperson for JOEY Restaurants, the Edmonton location's strict high heel requirement is a result of company miscommunication.
"There is no minimum height when it comes to our shoe policy," she told ATTN. "Shoes range from black dress flats, wedges and heels. For those employees wearing heels, we require the heel height to be no higher than 2.5'.
"What is clear from this incident is that, internally, there was a lack of communication and understanding around our guidelines," she added.
Since Gavins posted the photo, it's been shared over 11,000 times — presumably by others who don't want to see hardworking people get injured by a dumb shoe.
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Chloe was the shopping editor at Mashable. She was also previously a culture reporter. You can follow her on Twitter at @chloebryan.
