Discrimination for having long hair as a man?

Doll84

A male colleague of mine with shoulder length hair was told yesterday by a member of head office that his appearance wasn't inline with the company policy and he has to tie his hair back, at the time of the conversation I was standing opposite him and the chap from H/O didn't tell me I have to tie my hair back and I have near waist length hair, also another female colleague with long hair wasn't asked to either.

I have checked company policy on appearance and it doesn't state anywhere that long hair has to be tied back, just kept tidy, he keeps his hair behind his ears, unlike myself and my other colleagues who have it styled around our faces, I have a heavy fringe also which is mostly in my eyes lol!

He said he would tie it back to the chap but a bit later after he had gone he mentioned he didn't think it was fair that the girls weren't asked too, I think he is being discriminated for having long hair as a man, am I right?
I don't want him to start any complaints if he doesn't have a leg to stand on.
Thanks in advance

Blobby8_2

Probably the company have assessed that he has potential to do well and that he needs to conform more to the business like appearance required in management.

KiKi

If he is being treated differently compared to the women, then yes, it is discrimination. What he has to work out is whether or not it's worth raising the issue at work.

You have to take into account his role, his status, his contact with customers or clients etc. Why? Because if he meets clients regularly, for example, then his appearance would be important (as a woman's also would). If that was the case, as long as his hair is well kept and tidy and professional looking (as opposed to rats-taily!) then it *shouldn't* be an issue.

The danger with something like this - rightly or wrongly - is that a refusal to comply and a claim of sex discrimination over 'should I tie back my hair' might be seen as frivolous by the company, and they may find a way to get rid if they feel he's just being petty. Not saying that they're right, but it could be seen that way.

KiKi

Saturnalia

Yes, to me if men and women with long hair don't have to comply wwith the same rules on hairstyle then it is sexism. I take it you don't work in a food premises (where men and women would be expected to wear hairnets and caps and men with facial hair often have to wear chin-nets)?

Queen_Of_The_Jungle

Is this man doing a completely different job to you and the woman? Does it have anything to do with hygiene or health and safety??

Doll84

We work in a high street chain shop, he is a senior sales assistant, he is also the highest performing sales assistant we have, I feel bad for him as he does a really good job and they have found something petty to pick on him about.

He does have to deal with customers but no one has complained about his hair, he had it cut last week too, it's in better condition than mine to be honest :rotfl: it's always clean too.

real1314

A red herring many have drawn on is that people should be treated "the same" / "not differently" for things to be fair.

If as an employer I state that all employees should pee standing up, would that be fair? It would treated everyone the same!

Or that all employees should have short hair? Like 5mmm max? Would that be fair? - They'd all be the same/ they wouldn't be treated differently.

If he turned up with a moustache, skirt and blouse, would that be ok? (some women have moustaches).

People should be treatd equitably according to their situation/needs in line with the various forms of descrimination prescribed by law (and by common sense/decency too if you like).

So, would the hairstyle of the person addressed be regarded, in general terms, as conventional as the other people who work there?

In most retail environments the real requirement is to look "reasonably" conventional (tattoo parlours and comic book stores excepted).

Nowt more to say really. :cool:

getmore4less

Doll84 wrote: »

We work in a high street chain shop, he is a senior sales assistant, he is also the highest performing sales assistant we have, I feel bad for him as he does a really good job and they have found something petty to pick on him about.

He does have to deal with customers but no one has complained about his hair, he had it cut last week too, it's in better condition than mine to be honest :rotfl: it's always clean too.

Give the guy a hint he needs to keep records of all local performace they are probably looking to cut and this is an easy cut(pun).

If it is for tech poducts it could be an advantage I think there is a background believe that long hear == geek == knows stuff, so they can sell.

Savvy_Sue

Maybe at some point someone else could ask for sight of this 'company policy' and ask how Fred's hair is in breach of it when Freda's enables her to do a Lady Godiva without comment. Just curiousity, you understand ...

Sambucus_Nigra

What I would say is to pick his fights carefully.

When I was first promoted to management, I was told to stop wearing my sunglasses on my head [had done it for years as I get pain when driving when the sun is out so just slid them up when the sun went in]...it did annoy me but there are bigger issues out there to fight so I'd just suck it up to be honest.

birkee

As an employee, you give the employer what he wants in order to protect your job.
Having a job is not a right or an equality issue.

Did he have long hair when he was taken on for the job?