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Suspended from work - advice?

Hello all,

My partner works on the fishmonger department of a supermarket and was suspended from work this morning over a disagreement about his facial hair. He's been working with his beard for almost 2 years and has received little resistance over it. He was once told that staff were expected to either be clean-shaven or have a full beard; when he questioned the specifics on what was considered a full beard, it was never mentioned again. Beard nets are not enforced, and other members of staff on the department also maintain beards without any hassle from management.

While at work yesterday, he was told he should shave his beard. When he arrived at work this morning beard still intact, the manager gave him the option to shave it there and then or be suspended. He took the suspension.

He received a disciplinary recently over his sickness percentage (which has been taken over the limit following surgery and a hospital stay, all covered by a fit note) and he believes that the manager in question is now looking for any reasons to call him up. He has been in touch with his union and is waiting for them to call back today.

H&S regs obviously dictate that beard-nets should be worn during food-prep work, but the company has not enforced this once during his 4 years there, neither to him or any other bearded staff. He spoke to another colleague following his suspension who confirmed that they still have not been questioned on it, so it seems safe to say we can rule out a store-wide crackdown on the rules. If it's only him being reprimanded surely that's not right :huh:

Can anyone offer any advice? Do we have a leg to stand on here..?

Thanks in advance
Jess
«1345

Comments

  • nathanjpj
    nathanjpj Posts: 77 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    get him to visit his gp and explain that due to very sensitive skin, he cannot razor shave, and therefore wears a "short beard". gp will write a note to his employer

    looking "tidy" is a dodgy contractual area and should be avoided, imho
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 18,353 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    nathanjpj wrote: »
    get him to visit his gp and explain that due to very sensitive skin, he cannot razor shave, and therefore wears a "short beard". gp will write a note to his employer

    As there is no mention in the post of a skin problem, then this would be a waste of a GP's time and dishonest. If OP's partner did this it could lead to a disciplinary and possibly losing his job.

    Making a comment like this leads me to believe that perhaps you haven't told us the full story in your "Discrimination" thread.
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 73,412 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    nathanjpj wrote: »
    get him to visit his gp and explain that due to very sensitive skin, he cannot razor shave, and therefore wears a "short beard". gp will write a note to his employer

    looking "tidy" is a dodgy contractual area and should be avoided, imho

    Terrible terrible advice and an easy way to turn a problem Into a disaster.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • nathanjpj
    nathanjpj Posts: 77 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    neither of you have given any advice, you've simply critiqued mine.

    what is your purpose on this thread? chocolate teapots.
  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 18,353 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    nathanjpj wrote: »

    i'm sure you're mr/miss perfect and never do anything wrong. and i'm sure you would always fall on the side of a company over an individual. typical right-wing do-right. please wake me when you've stopped whinging.

    As I was a union rep for 20 years, I'm hardly likely to be on the side of an employer. I just told you your advice was bad. My political views happen to be left of centre, haven't voted Conservative since the 1970s. Frequently did things wrong in my jobs.

    Whingeing? Who's the one who's been whingeing about "discrimination".
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • nathanjpj
    nathanjpj Posts: 77 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    McKneff wrote: »
    You are pretty new to the site so please wind your neck in,
    As a long term member i can honestly say to you that you wont be a member for very long with the abuse and name calling.
    We are asked to be kind to newbies but newbies like yourself make it pretty damn diicult at times;
    You are pretty likely to get a PM from the mods to be honest

    chocolate teapot is nothing compared to the biggoted remarks I've encountered here. some members views on mental health are inflammatory, insulting and belong firmly in the Victorian era.

    but I respect your advice.
  • sangie595
    sangie595 Posts: 6,092 Forumite
    As I previously came to suspect, it's pretty clear who the troll is now.

    OP it all depends on what you mean by having a leg to stand on. In a disciplinary situation, any outcome less than dismissal is only able to be appealed internally. I would suggest that if this goes any further, the best defence would be "I do apologise for this, but given that neither I nor any of my colleagues have ever been asked to wear the net, I assumed management didn't think it necessary. Had I been asked to, I would have. And from now on I will." There really isn't much of a comeback for the employer on that. And the fact is that he is equally responsible for health and safety in law, and he should have known it should be worn. So the mildest route is generally the safest. Make to big a deal of this and every worker will be on a disciplinary, and he'll be responsible for it. Which won't make him popular with his colleagues.
  • nathanjpj
    nathanjpj Posts: 77 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Let us know what the union say.

    A doctor's note would protect him, but as mentioned above, if he doesn't have sensitive skin, you'd have to question your morals if you choose that route.

    If you're being honest, the situation does look like bullying, and if it he has witnesses he could raise a grievance. Be sure the evidence supports his view before doing something drastic like this, though.

    I'm not sure how beard nets fit into this. Is he happy to wear one? Would that calm his boss?

    If this is bullying, I'd shave the beard, return, and keep calm and controlled. Be a Class A worker for a while. Only interact with the manager when others are around to hear. If it's bullying the manager will slip up soon enough.
  • nicechap
    nicechap Posts: 2,852 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    As there is no mention in the post of a skin problem, then this would be a waste of a GP's time and dishonest. If OP's partner did this it could lead to a disciplinary and possibly losing his job.

    Making a comment like this leads me to believe that perhaps you haven't told us the full story in your "Discrimination" thread.

    100% agree with this.

    Its a real shame this thread is going to be derailed by someone's ego when the OP has asked for help.
    Originally Posted by shortcrust
    "Contact the Ministry of Fairness....If sufficient evidence of unfairness is discovered you’ll get an apology, a permanent contract with backdated benefits, a ‘Let’s Make it Fair!’ tshirt and mug, and those guilty of unfairness will be sent on a Fairness Awareness course."
  • ohreally
    ohreally Posts: 7,525 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    nathanjpj wrote: »
    A doctor's note would protect him.

    In what way?
    Don’t be a can’t, be a can.
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