Qantas Called On To Let Female Flight Attendants Not Wear Makeup Or High-Heels

The Australian Services Union (ASU) has called for Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to remove gender discriminatory uniform policies to make a more 'diverse and inclusive' workplace.

In a blunt letter to Joyce and The ASU said: "Today we thought it [was] timely to write to Qantas CEO Alan Joyce about moving the Qantas uniform policy into the 21st century".

The union called for Mr Joyce to update his uniform regulations, including the 'removing the requirement for women to wear makeup', 'allow women to wear low heel shoes' and reconsider 'whether heels and hosiery are still necessary at all'.

The union also requested the airline to allow employees to wear makeup 'in accordance with the style guide if they wish' and swap their badges to represent their preferred pronouns.

The letter also raised called out Joyce's policy for requiring female flight attendants to wear smaller watches smaller than male staff.

"Allow all employees to wear the same sized watch faces (in 2022 we think women can handle the same size watch face as men if we choose)," the union said.

Here's the list of all policies the union wishes Qantas CEO to amend:

• Remove the requirement for women to wear makeup;
• Allow all employees to wear makeup in accordance with the style guide if they wish;
• Allow women to wear low heel shoes, including permitted loafers, with all uniform items, not just trousers;
• Consider whether heels and hosiery are still necessary at all?
• Remove gender based uniform requirements allowing staff to wear all items permitted for their relevant work group;
• Allow all employees to wear the same sized watch faces (in 2022 we think women can handle the same size watch face as men if we choose);
• Explicitly allow for culturally inclusive dress and grooming;
• Allow employees to wear beards.

The ASU's letter comes ahead of Mardi Gras and International Women's Day; a pivotal time where the union is challenging these dinosaur policies to reflect today's standards.

CEO Alan Joyce

While the union acknowledges the airline has come a long way since the age of 'miniskirts and towering', they still have a long road ahead of them in achieving a progressive workplace.

A spokesperson for Qantas told Sky News that a new uniform policy is underway.

"We regularly review our uniform guide and have previously made amendments based on feedback from our people," a spokesperson said.

"We are currently working on a review of the guide with a view to updating it in the coming months.

"Qantas is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all parts of our business."

Topics: News, travel, Australia

Charisa Bossinakis