Male employee asked to cut hair short

Nick_C

johnsmith1890 wrote: »

Can a policeman have long hair in a pony tail?

No. But neither can a police woman.

Wear your hair so that it is cut or secured above the collar and ears and is neat and tidy. It should not present a health and safety hazard. Any hair accessory must be plain in design and black or navy blue in colour. Extreme and vivid hair colouring is not permitted. Do not dye it in conspicuously unnatural colours.
For police officers and other operational uniformed staff, pigtails and ponytails are unacceptable due to officer safety implications.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://recruit.college.police.uk/Officer/Documents/Appearance_Standards_GuidanceDocument.docx&ved=2ahUKEwjU3PCdq8DjAhWKbsAKHexDCeUQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw1z7PG8HZGusQnaEqvZDrrJ

Nick_C

highguyuk wrote: »

This feels like this isn't right and is discrimination, but I'm no expert. Can anyone advise?

It feels like it is right, but it's illegal. Company is being stupid putting that in writing. They need an unwritten dress code. Don't know why they hired someone who doesn't meet conventional standards of smart appearance, but they can't even hint that his appearance is the reason if they are going to sack him.

Appearances matter. Rightly or wrongly, most of us judge people by their appearance.

Look at Corbyn. When he was scruffy and turned up in Parliament looking scruffy in brown suit, he looked like a joke. But he took David Cameron's mother's advice. He had a shave and a haircut, got a smart suit and tie, and now looks like someone fit to run the country. Appearances are deceptive.

Sea_Shell

I wonder what classifies women's hair as being "neat and tidy". Even short styles can be "tousled". Wonder what they'd have made of my 80's perm!!!

Personally, I think that any difference between the descriptions between what Men & Women should wear is discriminating on that very fact that they are either.

I made a similar observation to DH whilst watching Wimbledon and the line judges. Men HAD to wear ties. Women got to choose between either a skirt or trousers, and were able to wear open neck shirts. Some of them didn't look good in either to be fair!!!!:eek::eek:

But as said above....before kicking off, how long have they worked there, and do they want to stay working there!!!??

ohreally

Are female employees also to be clean shaven?

nicechap

Nick_C wrote: »

No. But neither can a police woman.

There are exceptions:

https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/theresa-may-passes-a-sikh-policeman-on-guard-outside-10-downing-the-picture-id947529652?s=2048x2048

highguyuk

Good discussion so far!

He's worked there less than 2 years, and isn't typically someone who would like to kick up a fuss - hence why we're trying to support him. His company, quite small and local, are quite traditional in their ways.

His boss asked him verbally to cut his hair this week, quoting his contract. I've advised that he needs to ask for this in writing formally.

prowla

It's not sex discrimination because you are a man, dopey!

theoretica

A couple of years ago parliament discussed whether it should be illegal for dress codes to make women wear high heels at work - which seems to me to have similarities to this.



https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/129823

Marcon

What a load of anguish over nothing. Why not worry about real issues instead of this sort of trivia, which is exactly what it is?

MovingForwards

Reminds me of the first firm I did my work experience with, got a list of what's allowed and what isn't; even down to women having one set of earnings only (I had my ear pierced 10x at that point!), I wanted the experience at that firm so complied.