Help - Is this discrimation ?

annaabc

Hi, posting for the first time, been told by friend about this site and you might be able to give advice.

My son is working at a large supermarket and has been working there part time (he is a student) for nearly two years. He works basically stacking shelves in the fresh foods area, milks, cheese, ready meals etc.

A couple of weeks ago a new HR manager joined the company and she has approached my son and other males of my sons age and told them that they have to improve their appearance and should be clean shaven. My son is always in my opinion as smart as you can be wearing their uniform but the issue is one of his facial hair. He has a very very slight stubble and was told by the HR manager to go to the toilets and remove it with the disposable BIC shaver they have available. My son refused and so he was told that when he returns on his next shift that he would be clean shaven.

My son did not remove his stubble as he felt it to be very unfair when his manager (who also deals directly with the handling of the food) has a full beard. When he returned to work he was approached again by the HR manager who told him to go home (for which he would not have been paid) and not to return until he was clean shaven. My son said he would not leave work as he needed the money and that is was extremely unfair when his manager, who was standing next to him had a beard, the HR manager said a FULL beard was acceptable and that as he is a Muslim, his beard is totally acceptable? My son stated that he would be seeking advice and this could not be right.

His friend who was also in the same position as my son who had been working there full time a over 5 years has chosen to leave as he cannot stand this harrasement.

My son needs his job and it is very tough trying to find another position.

In the terms of his contract it just states that employees should be clean and tidy at all times, and he is. In fact when you look at some of the other staff working there he is probably one of the smartest.

My son is white has no religious beliefs. I have been on the government web site about this and there isnt a sub heading for this type of problem for someone ,without, religious beliefs.

Any advice would be appreciated.

tabskitten

Good Grief!!!

Material_Girl_2

It's the company's dress code not discrimination

Most companies have this kind of policy and where I work most men complain that women can get away with more things than men because we're women, but I would hope they don't see it as discrimination

If your son really wants to keep the job and the facial hair is the only issue there then he needs to accept it and just shave at home. He cannot shave on a Friday and then have his stubble for the weekend:)

The company will have their image and they want their staff to represent this image. Not always to employees liking but it's just one of those things when working for someone.

jmpereira

Sure, i mean... if the company did not settle the same dress policy for all men, and then started complaining with people's outfit randomly that would be a discrimination case in my opinion.
But in this case, the company seems to have the dressing policy well defined. People who don't agree with it or who are not simply willing to accept it, are free to leave their job.. right? Otherwise no manager would have the freedom to define a company's image.

getmore4less

Grow a full beard(a short one).

snowqueen555

Read your contract, is it an explicit requirement? All managers would need to adhere to this rule it its probably the case that this manager is a little OTT.

Greivance procedures? Usually you approach the next person up, that would be the store manager maybe?

Don't lose a job over a little hair, shave it off and then make enquiries

DVardysShadow

Does he shave occasionally? I think on this, he has to be consistent. The muslims never shave, IIRC. Your son can only really claim equality if he takes the same position. Not shaving frequently can rightly be perceived as unkempt.

annaabc

Material_Girl wrote: »

It's the company's dress code not discrimiation.

Most companies have this kind of policy and where I work most men complain that women can get away with more things than men because we're women, but I would hope they don't see it as discrimination

If your son really wants to keep the job and the facial hair is the only issue there then he needs to accept it and just shave at home. He cannot shave on a Friday and then have his stubble for the weekend:)

The company will have their image and they want their staff to represent this image. Not always to employees liking but it's just one of those things when working for someone.

Thanks for your reply.

But, is it right to just accept it when the man standing next to him has a beard and that is OK because he is a Muslim?

The dress code is - a full uniform - clean hands and nails ,(although he wears gloves), the correct foot wear. For women - hair tied back, no nail varnish, no jewellery. No body piecing. Clean and tidy appearance at all times. Other than a bit of stubble everything is OK.

My son thought it was a joke at first and has said 'OK I will grow a full beard then and change my faith' to which they have replied 'don't be silly you are not taking this serioulsy, we have our targets to achieve and your appearance could give us negative points'

This is about the mystery shopper giving points to a member of staff for their service and their general appearance. If the man with the beard served the mystery shopper would she deduct points because of his beard if she did not know he was a muslim or would she give points to my son because she thought 'oh he is growing a beard - he must be a Muslim'.

Should all staff now be labelled on their name tag with their religion in order not to be discriminated against.

Is does not seem right to me ?

Material_Girl_2

There is a difference though between stubble and a well kept beard.

It seems to me that the company is doing the right thing in maintaining a company dress code and respecting religious beliefs at the same time.

I guess if your son wants a nicely trimmed beard or convert to another religion that allows him to grow a beard (does he really though?) then he could grow it over his holidays so that if looks nice and groomed and not stubbly by the time he retuns to work.

The fact is that there may be quite a few customers at that store who do associate stubble with an unkempt appearance.

I think he is making his life at work more difficult than it needs to be. He should just shave and enjoy the improved relations at work with his line manager:)

annaabc

Well as his mother I think it is well kept stubble and that my son is quite gorgeous and is wasting his time stacking shelves and
can`t wait for him to be discovered:D

Seriously, he really is`nt being arsey about the whole thing and really is respectful about the situation but it has created such bad feelings, especially when his work mates had chosen to leave over this situation. He is good worker and he has always had the `stubble` since working there, even when first interviewed - which never stopped him getting the job`.

Beard, Muslim - OK
Stubble - just your run of the mill bloke - trying to do a job - not OK

It all seems disjointed to me. I have told him to speak to his store manager, but he hasn`t really got the confidence and will proably just leave

dmg24

annaabc wrote: »

Well as his mother I think it is well kept stubble and that my son is quite gorgeous and is wasting his time stacking shelves and
can`t wait for him to be discovered:D

Seriously, he really is`nt being arsey about the whole thing and really is respectful about the situation but it has created such bad feelings, especially when his work mates had chosen to leave over this situation. He is good worker and he has always had the `stubble` since working there, even when first interviewed - which never stopped him getting the job`.

Beard, Muslim - OK
Stubble - just your run of the mill bloke - trying to do a job - not OK

It all seems disjointed to me. I have told him to speak to his store manager, but he hasn`t really got the confidence and will proably just leave

Have you ever heard the phrase religious intolerance? Perhaps you should take the time to understand the significance of the beard to those of the Islamic faith? Your views are rather bigoted.