long hair, work and prejudice

• long hair, work and prejudice
  

  

  walter

  
  

  I want to tell you guys what ever happened with me at work yesterday.
  I work for one of the largest international airline in the world, wich has his headquartes in the USA, where during courses I saw for many times men working with long hair.
  Last week we started to preparing a new interview for candidates. As a leader agent at the reservations dept., observing the supervisors, the human resources agent were very busy, I started to help everyone with new ideas and a lot of work. Last Monday was a national holiday in my country and as I told them I went to the office to do my next day work and finish the forms for the interview. I gave my name to them as a volunteer to participate during the interview as one of the interviewers. My manager was very proud of my work and good will, and everything was going ok.
  In the morning we had the first interview and everything was great, but the nest group on the afternoon, I was called from the human resources agent and one of my supervisors telling me I couldn't participate on the other interview because the general sales manager told them I shouldn't be there because of my ponytail. He said it wasn't good for the image of the company, if the candidates see someone with long hair.
  Since I started to grow my hair (in accordance with my manager) I received a lot of nice compliments about my elegance in where a suit with my hair held in a well done small ponytail.
  I was very shocked and depressed about his opnion, because of the humiliation and prejudice that he showed with his attitude. Prejudice is a crime in my country and I could do something against that, but I think this is not the point. I told if the problem was have a ponytail and wear the uniform I could use another suit, but he stressed that I would cause some kind of damage to the company's image. Well, nobody care about how hard I had worked on that, or the quality of my work in a daily basis, but my hair. This is a kind of frustrating thing to feel, especially when nobody gives you any help.
  I still hope one day those attitudes really get a stop. Probably Hittler started with this kind of behavior...

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  • Re: long hair, work and prejudice
    

    

    walter

    
    

    I want to tell you guys what ever happened with me at work yesterday.
    I work for one of the largest international airline in the world, wich has his headquartes in the USA, where during courses I saw for many times men working with long hair.
    Last week we started to preparing a new interview for candidates. As a leader agent at the reservations dept., observing the supervisors, the human resources agent were very busy, I started to help everyone with new ideas and a lot of work. Last Monday was a national holiday in my country and as I told them I went to the office to do my next day work and finish the forms for the interview. I gave my name to them as a volunteer to participate during the interview as one of the interviewers. My manager was very proud of my work and good will, and everything was going ok.
    In the morning we had the first interview and everything was great, but the nest group on the afternoon, I was called from the human resources agent and one of my supervisors telling me I couldn't participate on the other interview because the general sales manager told them I shouldn't be there because of my ponytail. He said it wasn't good for the image of the company, if the candidates see someone with long hair.
    Since I started to grow my hair (in accordance with my manager) I received a lot of nice compliments about my elegance in where a suit with my hair held in a well done small ponytail.
    I was very shocked and depressed about his opnion, because of the humiliation and prejudice that he showed with his attitude. Prejudice is a crime in my country and I could do something against that, but I think this is not the point. I told if the problem was have a ponytail and wear the uniform I could use another suit, but he stressed that I would cause some kind of damage to the company's image. Well, nobody care about how hard I had worked on that, or the quality of my work in a daily basis, but my hair. This is a kind of frustrating thing to feel, especially when nobody gives you any help.
    I still hope one day those attitudes really get a stop. Probably Hittler started with this kind of behavior...

    Well, I was yesterday finally asked to cut my hair, wich turmed very deppresed and concerned about that, I like my job, but honestly if I was living on a country where I could fin better work chances I wouldn't say yes. I am buying a wig to wear, but I didn't give up about the idea of keeping my hair long. That's an abuse.

    reply close reply form
    • Re: long hair, work and prejudice
      

      

      George

      
      

      I want to tell you guys what ever happened with me at work yesterday.
      I work for one of the largest international airline in the world, wich has his headquartes in the USA, where during courses I saw for many times men working with long hair.
      Last week we started to preparing a new interview for candidates. As a leader agent at the reservations dept., observing the supervisors, the human resources agent were very busy, I started to help everyone with new ideas and a lot of work. Last Monday was a national holiday in my country and as I told them I went to the office to do my next day work and finish the forms for the interview. I gave my name to them as a volunteer to participate during the interview as one of the interviewers. My manager was very proud of my work and good will, and everything was going ok.
      In the morning we had the first interview and everything was great, but the nest group on the afternoon, I was called from the human resources agent and one of my supervisors telling me I couldn't participate on the other interview because the general sales manager told them I shouldn't be there because of my ponytail. He said it wasn't good for the image of the company, if the candidates see someone with long hair.
      Since I started to grow my hair (in accordance with my manager) I received a lot of nice compliments about my elegance in where a suit with my hair held in a well done small ponytail.
      I was very shocked and depressed about his opnion, because of the humiliation and prejudice that he showed with his attitude. Prejudice is a crime in my country and I could do something against that, but I think this is not the point. I told if the problem was have a ponytail and wear the uniform I could use another suit, but he stressed that I would cause some kind of damage to the company's image. Well, nobody care about how hard I had worked on that, or the quality of my work in a daily basis, but my hair. This is a kind of frustrating thing to feel, especially when nobody gives you any help.
      I still hope one day those attitudes really get a stop. Probably Hittler started with this kind of behavior...

      Well, I was yesterday finally asked to cut my hair, wich turmed very deppresed and concerned about that, I like my job, but honestly if I was living on a country where I could fin better work chances I wouldn't say yes. I am buying a wig to wear, but I didn't give up about the idea of keeping my hair long. That's an abuse.

      I really feel bad for you. It just isn't right that a person who proves to be a good employee can have somebody tell them to cut their hair. You would think after all these years people would lighten up a bit. Just because somebody has short hair doesn't mean he will be a better employee.

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      • Re: long hair, work and prejudice
        

        

        Jeff

        
        

        I want to tell you guys what ever happened with me at work yesterday.
        I work for one of the largest international airline in the world, wich has his headquartes in the USA, where during courses I saw for many times men working with long hair.
        Last week we started to preparing a new interview for candidates. As a leader agent at the reservations dept., observing the supervisors, the human resources agent were very busy, I started to help everyone with new ideas and a lot of work. Last Monday was a national holiday in my country and as I told them I went to the office to do my next day work and finish the forms for the interview. I gave my name to them as a volunteer to participate during the interview as one of the interviewers. My manager was very proud of my work and good will, and everything was going ok.
        In the morning we had the first interview and everything was great, but the nest group on the afternoon, I was called from the human resources agent and one of my supervisors telling me I couldn't participate on the other interview because the general sales manager told them I shouldn't be there because of my ponytail. He said it wasn't good for the image of the company, if the candidates see someone with long hair.
        Since I started to grow my hair (in accordance with my manager) I received a lot of nice compliments about my elegance in where a suit with my hair held in a well done small ponytail.
        I was very shocked and depressed about his opnion, because of the humiliation and prejudice that he showed with his attitude. Prejudice is a crime in my country and I could do something against that, but I think this is not the point. I told if the problem was have a ponytail and wear the uniform I could use another suit, but he stressed that I would cause some kind of damage to the company's image. Well, nobody care about how hard I had worked on that, or the quality of my work in a daily basis, but my hair. This is a kind of frustrating thing to feel, especially when nobody gives you any help.
        I still hope one day those attitudes really get a stop. Probably Hittler started with this kind of behavior...

        Well, I was yesterday finally asked to cut my hair, wich turmed very deppresed and concerned about that, I like my job, but honestly if I was living on a country where I could fin better work chances I wouldn't say yes. I am buying a wig to wear, but I didn't give up about the idea of keeping my hair long. That's an abuse.

        I really feel bad for you. It just isn't right that a person who proves to be a good employee can have somebody tell them to cut their hair. You would think after all these years people would lighten up a bit. Just because somebody has short hair doesn't mean he will be a better employee.

        How come all people ask you to do is cut your hair? How about people with god awful perfume! Or the clothes they wear? Or losing weight? How about bad breath? Why is it that certain types fixate about long hair? I believe it is often jealousy because if you look at the one's criticizing and legislating against long hair, they are usually bald or have the ugliest hair in the entire world. Put everything in perspective and consider the source of your so called "criticism". If you have good looking hair, who should really care how long it is other than the one that has to kept it looking that way?

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        • Re: long hair, work and prejudice
          

          

          Mike C.

          
          

          How come all people ask you to do is cut your hair? How about people with god awful perfume! Or the clothes they wear? Or losing weight? How about bad breath? Why is it that certain types fixate about long hair? I believe it is often jealousy because if you look at the one's criticizing and legislating against long hair, they are usually bald or have the ugliest hair in the entire world.

          As unfortunate as it may be, there are no concise regulations stating that an employer cannot discriminate based on your appearance.

          If the employer doesn't like your long hair, your looks or anything outside the realm of their views of the "norms", the they can "selectively disqualify" you for your position based on all kinds of creative reasons they think up which you could never imagine until you encounter one.

          Bottom line is, the competitive workplace, and if they don't like your hair, or your looks, they'll get rid of the problem if you don't comply. That's just the way it is, and I do not know how to change it.

          I agree with you on the perfume issue! Anyone wearing florals in the same room as I am such as eternity or the likes of produces an instant migrane!

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    • Re: long hair, work and prejudice
      

      

      walter

      
      

      I want to tell you guys what ever happened with me at work yesterday.
      I work for one of the largest international airline in the world, wich has his headquartes in the USA, where during courses I saw for many times men working with long hair.
      Last week we started to preparing a new interview for candidates. As a leader agent at the reservations dept., observing the supervisors, the human resources agent were very busy, I started to help everyone with new ideas and a lot of work. Last Monday was a national holiday in my country and as I told them I went to the office to do my next day work and finish the forms for the interview. I gave my name to them as a volunteer to participate during the interview as one of the interviewers. My manager was very proud of my work and good will, and everything was going ok.
      In the morning we had the first interview and everything was great, but the nest group on the afternoon, I was called from the human resources agent and one of my supervisors telling me I couldn't participate on the other interview because the general sales manager told them I shouldn't be there because of my ponytail. He said it wasn't good for the image of the company, if the candidates see someone with long hair.
      Since I started to grow my hair (in accordance with my manager) I received a lot of nice compliments about my elegance in where a suit with my hair held in a well done small ponytail.
      I was very shocked and depressed about his opnion, because of the humiliation and prejudice that he showed with his attitude. Prejudice is a crime in my country and I could do something against that, but I think this is not the point. I told if the problem was have a ponytail and wear the uniform I could use another suit, but he stressed that I would cause some kind of damage to the company's image. Well, nobody care about how hard I had worked on that, or the quality of my work in a daily basis, but my hair. This is a kind of frustrating thing to feel, especially when nobody gives you any help.
      I still hope one day those attitudes really get a stop. Probably Hittler started with this kind of behavior...

      Well, I was yesterday finally asked to cut my hair, wich turmed very deppresed and concerned about that, I like my job, but honestly if I was living on a country where I could fin better work chances I wouldn't say yes. I am buying a wig to wear, but I didn't give up about the idea of keeping my hair long. That's an abuse.

      I really like to thank you guys all words of support and encouragenment you have been writing to me. Tomorrow is my 33rd birthday and I'll be travelling to the USA to take some time to think about what I am going to do. I love my job and still feel very discriminated about what happened. I agree with you the guy who told I couldn't be at the interview is bald, and the same guy who told me to cut my hair is the same one to suggest me to let it grow some months ago. The problem is I am not rich and need the job which I really like and I don't know how the wig is going to cost to me, so if I couldn't afford for it I have no choice but cutting it a little at least since in my commpny's dress code is written "ponytails are prohibited" for men. So I'll be back home around May 14th, and I really wish I have good news to tell you about that. I just want to thank you again and declare that your words of encouragement means so much to me. Hugs, Walter.

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