Can't work in daytime because of hair

SailorSam

Delilah correct me if i'm wrong but a little earlier did you say you're B/F s boss didn't mind the hairstyle but it was the lady who owned the petrol station ?
And i think you said your B/F had never met her ?
If he's not met her he probably doesn't know what colour hair she has, but then she wqnt know what his hair is like either.

Kay_Peel

This may be a case of sexual discrimination rather than racist.

Delilah666 has posted a link to a photo of a similar hairstyle as worn by an Asian actor. Other photos of the actor show him to have shoulder length with a centre parting, plastered down with loads of styling products (reminiscent of Michael Jackson's hairstyle during his Thriller heyday). The hairstyle is very unisex. I wonder if there is a female employee with shoulder-length hair working normal shifts? If so, why is Delilah's boyfriend' s hair unacceptable?

I would expect the employer to say something like: 'We have a policy about our employees appearance and what's expected when they turn up for work. Hair must be clean and cut short, or else it must be tied back in a ponytail. Can you tie back your hair, please?'

Any reasonable person would oblige if they knew about the company policy and were asked politely. Just to be shifted to unsociable hours seems unfair.

Here's some advice which may help to resolve the problem and get the boyfriend back on normal shifts. He says: 'Can I have a word with you. You say there's a problem with my hair. I'm not sure what's wrong with it, but I want to put right any doubts you may have about my appearance and suitability to work day shifts. Would it help if I tied it back?'

Good luck in getting the situation resolved. The boss hasn't handled the situation at all well but try to meet him/her half way before starting down the unfair discrimination route.

nm123_2

What a thread!

Delilah - keep us posted, I'd be interested to see what the manager's "real" problem is?

SailorSam

Delilah where do you live ?
Can someone please recommend a good hairdresser to her, perhaps an old style guy who'll do a short, back and sides.
If the B/f gets his haircut, we can cut this thread.

NoAngel

My dad's Jamaican and my Mum's english and we all use the term 'half caste' without realising it's offensive. Oops!

I look more 'white' though and at school I had a friend who was also half-Jamaican, but looked more 'black' than me. We both got our hair braided, and on return to school, I was immediately told I had to remove my braids because they were inappropriate. When I asked why this other girl was allowed, I was told that it was part of her cultural identity! So obviously I complained but got nowhere...

Don't know if this is a similar issue in terms of the problem being about race, but if so I hope things get sorted immediately. The fact that he can work at night is so very strange and seems highly suspicous!

macman

Can I suggest that the OP's boyfriend just consults his contract of employment to see what is mentioned regarding his dress code or personal appearance? If nothing relevant, then he should tell his manager to mind his own business.
The fact that the 'offence' only seems to relate to a certain time of day seems to me to indicate that this whole thing is based on some cranky personal prejudice and has nothing to do with health and safety or company policy whatsoever.

DVardysShadow

poet123 wrote: »

elfen wrote: »

Very stupid, but maybe they feel that cos of his hair he will be seen as black and people will treat him as such (very suspiciously) during the day

why would this be the case?

Who knows. But elfen is not saying that people will treat him with suspicion, she is speculating that his employers will feel people might react this way

DVardysShadow

poet123 wrote: »

It is useful for people to know because in many occupations use of incorrect terms whether through ignorance, or choice, would result in disciplinary action. Whether those in your social circle accept any given term is irrelevant, if it is considered derogatory by some/most/many then to use it is a risk. It is not always about being PC, it is sometimes about covering yourself.

Ultimately, it boils down to this. Whatever term is used for someone whose parents' skin colours do not match, ultimately that term will be considered derogatory and it will be replaced by another term which will fairly quickly also be regarded as derogatory.

poet123

Ultimately, it is better to know, or be told, what is currently regarded as derogatory by many, instead of making a blunder which leads you into the realms of disciplinary action.

poet123

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Who knows. But elfen is not saying that people will treat him with suspicion, she is speculating that his employers will feel people might react this way

How do you know this is what she is saying? that is not how I read it.