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When I worked at a resort on the beaches down here they had a "hair code" for all Men that required all hair to be cut above the ears and shirt collar and to be tapered.
I recall one guy who had mid-length hair and used to wet it down before work and tie it up and hide it under his hat. he was one of the maitenence guys. no one knew, but one day one of the management types spotted him in one of the stores shopping and it was brought to his bosses attention so he was informed he had to conform to the haircut policy or look for another job.
many employers such as Publix are like that in this state. I've never seen a longhaired guy working in any job where they meet the public including banks.
I even applied for a banking position when my hair was basically over the ears and combed very neat.(I had recently had it cut) and was informed it would have to be much shorter!
I have never understood the mentality down here. it's been suggested by many that I should think about getting a "military" type cut and maybe my career opportunities would change.
maybe relocating to another state would be better.
what do you guys think?
What part of Florida are you from?? I live in Orlando (i go to college in Louisiana), and i hate that long hair is frowned upon down here. oh well...
Tampa Bay area.
are they more tolerant in Louisiana than Florida?
why is it frowned on so much in this state?
Is Florida really like that? My dad moved there and me and my sisters are probably going down there over Spring Break. =/
I found a summer job at a mall with NO problem, granted it was kind of a hippy store where i worked (thats in orlando, btw). however, i think things are a little more old fashioned in Louisiana. From what ive noticed while at home, im never really frowned upon or anything from having long hair. while traveling there, you will have NO problems if you have long hair :-), at least as far as ive known
Yes, I forgot to mention stores that sell musical instruments and even music stores, but this is the exception , not the rule.
granted, if you applied for a job where Goth's or PUnk's are working, you wouldn't have to worry, but if the people who work there look like they belong on Wallstreet, then be preparred to respond to the "haircut" question.
Yes Florida is really like that. if you're a tourist and have money to spend-no problem, but if you're looking for a job , be prepared for the "haircut" issue to be asked of you.
Don't let anyone discourage you. Florida is what you make of it.
Yes, the land of low-wage jobs and it's a RIGHT-TO-WORK state which means that they can fire you for anything if they so desire.
If you love your hair and have a good job in another state I would suggest staying put and do some further research on any location which you are considering moving to as to avoid any hassles which might occur regarding your appearance.
They will fire you in any state if they don't like you. Like I said, I had no problem here. To each his own.
In a Right-To-Work state like Florida-YES, but in a Union State-no You have more rights.
I think it's because Florida has a lot of senior citizens. Businesses don't want to risk offending such a large group, so they stick to outmoded dress codes.
I am surprised to get a lot of positive comments by senior citizens, especially older women, even those who are aged more than 70. Maybe 30 years ago the older folks were offended by seeing men with long hair, however today's seniors have seen long hair since 1965-1970 and got used to it, that is someone who is 80 today was 40 in 1966, and the youngest retiree at 65 was 25 in 1966. Seniors have other things to worry about than men with long hair. A lot of the folks who bilk seniors are the suit and tie crowd.
Have a nice day,
Georges in Montreal.
From my experience with the seniors, hair length is not an issue and I've even had some discussions with some of them regarding it. they are far more offended by loud abrasive "bassy" car stereos and individuals with multiple piercings and baggy pants then anything else.
I think businesses do it for an entirely different reason.
but many of the boomers are now approaching that age or are already in that age group and they grew up during the cultural revolution of the 1960's.
I had no idea that FL was like that. I suggest moving somewhere else! I have a friend who moved there and then cut his hair, and I was surprised that he cut it, but I didn't know that Florida was so reactionary.
I am in the Washington DC area, and there is a bank I go in regularly where one of the tellers is a hispanic guy with a waist length ponytail. I have to admit I was surprised to see that in a bank, but there he is. It's the Wachovia Bank in the Fox Chase shopping mall in Alexandria, Virginia.
I live in Tampa and me and my friends have had no problem.
As a construction worker you won't have a problem, but I dare you and your friends to apply for jobs at Publix and see what kind of response you'll get.
also, put while you're at it fill out an application at any of the resorts and see what they inform you regarding the "Hair" issue.
very few long hairs work where they are seen in the public down here. most work either construction type jobs, or some other manual labor job unless they're in the medical field and have some form of specialized training. you won't find them in the hospitality industry or the supermarket. in fact I doubt you'll find them in telemarketing. I applied for a job once and it was "suggested" to me that I should cut my hair.
We are not in contruction for one thing. I had employers ask me to cut my hair when I lived in Pennsylvania, but had no problem here. I worked in bartending, sales and worked at a St pete beach resort. Now I sell real estate and make a great living. It depends on the employer, not the state. If they have a problem with hair, I guarentee they will have a problem with other stupid things. That's when you turn your back and go to the next interview. I lived in two other states and this has been the best and a great economy in the Tampa Bay area.
What resort?
all the resorts that I'm aware of in that area including the Don Cesar and Tradewinds Resort require short hair on their male employees.
everyone whom I've known that worked at any the resorts on the beach has told me the same thing including the guy who hid his hair up under his hat until he was told to cut it off.
Hello Everyone,
I would suggest a list be made of all longhair friendly businesses, so that business be steered towards the less stodgy ones. Those who have the means to go to resorts for vacations should boycott them, try to share houses with long-haired contacts, or frequent resorts with no hair code.
As customers we vote with our money, and should we have longhair gatherings, requiring hotels, campgrounds or other places, choose only the places where workers are allowed to wear their hair the way they wish, with provisions for hair nets for kitchen workers.
In Montreal, there is a vegetarian restaurant on the corner of Mc Gill College and St-Catherine street, where at least three staffers have long hair. I go eat there at least twice a week since it is not far from my work.
We should make a list of restaurants, bars, hotels and stores where long-haired employees are seen working with the public, and steer business towards them.
Have a nice day,
Georges in Montreal.
Unfortunately, the majority of tourists who are male who visit Florida don't have long hair. a few here and there , but they really don't pay much attention to how the employees are dressed or wear their hair because they are generally trying to enjoy themselves or are here on a business trip and that is the few long hairs that come down here on vacation.
they may also assume that because many of the guys sport crewcut/buzzcuts and such is due to the climate and not consider the "haircut" factor that is part of the resorts dress code.
I do know that Publix will not allow men to have hair over the shirt collar. you can contact them on their site about this issue at:
http://www.publix.com/contact/ContactUs.do
but don't be surprised if they don't respond. they're not the only supermarket chain that has such rules either.
a few small businesses such as Health food stores employ long haired males, but I've yet to see any Long Haired guys working as a bank teller, Real Estate Agent, Used Car Salesman, Verizon, or even working in an insurance office.
as a matter of fact, I've never seen a long haired guy working for Brighthouse customer service.
lots of people who move here think FLorida is waaay behind the times and they are right, not just in terms of accepting long hairs in the work place, but wages as well seem to be well below the national average.
Hey yeah i used to work in a bank and they have a hair code as well as in publix i had a frined their who was growing it out put was told to keep it sharp. im growing out my hair but its not long enought to get any notice yet. but let see how it goes in my job .
Check out this link.
http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm
You can't be denied employment for being in a union. Florida is not the only right to work state. There are 22 states total and you can click on that state to read the right to work laws. I lived in Pennsylvania (not a right to work state)and was fired for a bogus reason; I went to the labor board and was told that an employer has the right to hire and fire as they please. Publix won't hire longhairs in any state, neither will ups or fed ex. Resorts in Atlantic City, NJ will have the same hair rules. It has nothing to do with the state, it is the individual employer and their rules. I have longhair friends in Stuart, FL and they work in restuarants in the front. I even been to the Stuart Publix on Federal Highway (US 1) and a longhair was in the deli with a hairnet on. Just sounds to me that you are sick of Florida altogether. If weather is not an issue, I would try Philadelphia or New York, but if great weather like we get in Florida is important, then perhaps southern California would suit you. Good luck in your decision.
Peace.
