Whether you’re a doctor, a sales associate, a banker, a teacher or a nurse, chances are your feet hurt when you’re at work. A lot. So much so, that a pretty large number of you would be willing to accept a lower salary in order to avoid wearing uncomfortable shoes while on the job and instead be allowed to wear sneakers.
Research by the College of Podiatry found that employees’ feet typically start to hurt about 3 hours and 44 minutes into a typical work shift, and almost 10% percent of workers would take a pay cut for the freedom to wear shoes that may help reduce leg and foot pain.
Whose Feet Hurt The Most? Top 6 Professions That Cause Sore Feet
According to the study, the professions with the largest percentage of people complaining of leg and foot pain due to their work include:
- Doctors: 55% of all doctors experience leg and foot pain on the job, and nearly a quarter have been scolded at work for sitting down due to foot pain
- Nurses: Half of all nurses report leg and foot pain due to their work, and nearly a third experience joint problems due to being on their feet for hours at a time
- Mechanics: A quarter of all mechanics say they struggle due to foot and leg pain, and 20% report having developed plantar fasciitis, a painful heel condition
- Builders: 18% of all builders experience leg pain due to their jobs
- Shop Assistants: A fifth of all shop assistants have experienced ingrown toenails from having to wear high heels and other uncomfortable shoes, and 28% report having had to kick off their shoes during work hours due to foot pain
- Teachers: 12% of teachers report muscular problems due to their work, 16% report joint problems, and 30% complain of lower back pain at work
More On Foot Pain At Work
Mike O'Neill, Consultant Podiatrist from The College of Podiatry, says: “The bottom line is your feet should not hurt. If you experience foot pain it means you are not wearing the right footwear for the activity you are doing. Sadly the research demonstrates that for many people this is the case at work. It is particularly sad that in this day and age that what is considered to be appropriate work attire is not actually fit for [the] purpose.”
In addition to nearly a tenth of all people being willing to get paid less in order to have more shoe freedom at work, the study found one in six people would pay for a foot massage at work and 10% would take a small pay cut if a foot spa was supplied at work.
“Whatever your job, we would recommend that you have your shoes properly fitted in a good retailer and that you opt for something that is comfortable as well as suitable looking for the work place,” O’Neill adds. “We'd also like to see employers providing their staff with more support in this area, altering dress codes if needed and providing access to podiatrists for foot checks if required.”