new thread
I have been on a leave of absense from my job for a year. While I was out, I let me hair grow which is something I've always wanted to do. When I stated back to work again, I pulled it back into a pony tail (only about 2" or so) because I thought that would be more "professional". Well today, after just 10 days back on the job, I was called into my managers office and basically told "get a haircut" UGH!
He told me that there had been several comments by senior executives to both HR and to him about my hair. The way it was put was "we dont have a specific policy on hair length, and you can CHOOSE to wear it how you want, just understand that you will probablty have difficulties getting client assignments... unless your hair is more "normal"....
I know that if I dont get client assignments, then I wont have a job, probably sooner than later... Basically they are saying it is MY decision on how I want to wear my hair and how I want to impact my career. UGH!
Well, this to me is obvious discrimination. But I didnt lose my cool.... I just asked how he thought my hair would affect my abilities to do the job, and he said he knew it wouldnt affect my "technical" abilities, but it could affect my ability to be staffed on client projects... Again - just an "implied" threat...
Of course, I DO NOT want to cut it...
So --- has anyone out there fought this battle before?
My current plan to discuss this with my HR person on Monday...
But I fear this is a no win situation...
Anyone have any suggestions other than to find a new job?
Thanks,
Dfw Consultant
This is one reason I don't live in DFW anymore. Try Austin. You'll love it here.
Speak to your HR person and make it VERY clear that if anything is done to derail your "assignments", that she, your manager, and the company as a whole will be in the courtroom to defend their actions. Do NOT be timid. Be assertive but polite.
Their implied threats can be met with your clear threats.
I got some input from a lawyer friend this weekend. Not very hopeful I'm afraid...
"There's no legal standing -- no legal issue -- when employers or partners set dress codes or dress standards or informally decide how they want their employees to look, or discriminate in the assignment of projects based on hairstyles. Sorry. Legally, employers (of a certain size) can't discriminate on the basis of race, creed, age, national origin, disability, religion or gender. Any other grounds for discrimination -- ability, personality, looks, or
hairstyle, for example -- is legal. I guess I don't really have a very good suggestions if you don't want to cut it, except, perhaps, a wig."
Explain to them that you are a devout Christian and that you believe that Jesus had long hair and that there is evidence in the Bible that all God-fearing men should let their hair grow long as God has made and intended it. Explain that you would regret to have to file suit on the basis of religious descrimination and retire early on your settlement. You would much rather work for a living. Wouldnt you?
It IS possible that clients will actually respect your decision to wear your hair...
YOUR way. Suppose you keep your tail and do NOT lose any clients...
THEN WHAT could they say?
Just a thought.
Good Luck!
Going by what he said, it sounds like the company does the asigning of clients...and they told him he wouldn't get any assigned.
Which is grounds for a lawsuit. And if it were me...they'd know they'll gte sued if they jacked around.
I couldn't agree with you more, but unfortunately the Law these days is.............well, better not get me going on that. In short, if it were for color or race reasons, the business he works for wouldn"t DARE "harass" this man. But somehow, long hair might NOT win the case. Some sharpie Lawyer would figure-out another angle and make it look as if long hair were not the reason for his release from the company. So unfair!
And what are we saying to any longhaired costumers?clients of ours? That we're better than they are, because we have "Normal" hair and they don't?
My 2 pennies
Like my Aunt told her son...Hey Kid, it's your hair, not mine. Just keep the stuff clean! My son has long hair and his mothers backbone to back it up with. This can be a good thing, but you'll have to expect a real fight when it comes to those of a closed mind set that judge only by what they see. Little do they know just how blind they really are. Tell your boss you were who you were when you took leave and you are still that same person. What if your eyelashes grew longer? Would THAT make a difference? GGrrrrr...Good luck.
If in Texas employers have the right to have you meet their demands and its not a discrimination issue or so we've been told. Maybe you should ask what length would be acceptable. Also consider, it maybe the style you choose. If need a good stylist, I'll help you out at no charge. Don't be taken by my handle wearing my hair longer these days.
Cutting to the bone! An employer has the right to fire, hire anyone anytime. It may cost him wrongful dismissal legal fees, but in the end he decides who works for him and who doesn't. But that said - I am no quiter. How badly do you want your long hair? If you have been away for a year, they may be jeliousy because of your leave while the others slogged away. You come back with the new look and.... You may never learn the reason why they are coming down on you hard - but that is unimportant. Office politics are everything. I have been lucky so far but if I had to I would wear a wig at work to keep my long hair. If you were to wear a conservative wig for a while my best guess is that they would be more curious about your hair underneath and let you have it out. Your problem is that you are newly back to work. In sickness and in health, fellow employees are envious of others because they often perceive themselves as having less of a life and wouldn't mind cramping the style of others beneath them. Consider your options. I always say in life: Go for what you want and let them (others) have all the small stuff. Let the enemy think they are winning and they will only fight half as hard. In simple terms: Agree with everthing they say, cooperate in every way. Rebuild their confidence, trust, appreciation and friendship (just like spies do) in you as it was before your leave and they will beg you to let your hair down. But in the meantime, consider a wig. Winning a war is all about getting the job done right no matter what it takes. In a real war they young solders at the front die for their country. In your
case you may perspire for a few weeks or months or until the
first summer bbq when every one is drunk and challenges you
to a wig lift-off. I can hear the count down now!
time to find a new job- no?
I went through something similar a couple of years back. The HR manager took a dislike to my hair length and tried a number of approaches. Firstly through my manager who point blank refused. She then tried the direct approach. When that didn't work, she tried going through the executive. In the UK, we have a better protection in our legal system - successive legal judgements have set precedents which mean that to make a dress code stick, it has to be justifed, fair, communicated and consulted. Failure to do that will mean losing at the employment tribunal.
Then we get the Human Rights Act - articles 8, 9 and 10 mean that dress codes have to be justifed as necessary in a democratic society. To get around that, the defence would have to demonstrate that an employee's long hair was detrimental to health and safety or public morals...This hasn't yet been tested in the courts.