Is this legal?

Question

I had blue hair when I applied for my job about four month ago and my employer made me change my hair color before she would let me work for her. I just want to know if that is legal or not. Some articals if you have any?

Well the thing is we are required to wear hats on the job. F*ck off @sshole I don't need to grow up i'm 19 and enjoying my youth I was looking for factual information not some bull sh1t from an ignorage person. Give me factual data proving it one way or another.

I read through ever part of the company policies and it speaks about tattoos, peircing, and dress but it never mentions hair color and you know what there are people working there with visable piercings and tattoos.

Nothing is ever "professional" about working in restartant. Especially drive through.

Answer 1

It is legal as long as they made it part of the offer to accept the job.

Under discrimination it never states hair color- clothing perference or piercings. In fact appearence is not mentioned at all.

You are young and you obviously have alot of spirit, however it is true people judge you on first impression and employers know this and want employees to look 'normal' if not a suit and tie look. While everyone's view of acceptable appearnce varies an employer will make it policy often to wear appropriate attire or certain other aspects of dress or appearence.

By agreeing to change the color of your hair you not only demonstrated flexibility but also commitment to your employer about your ethics toward the job. Try to view it as a learning experience not someone judging you. Obviously this employer saw potential and perhaps qualities in you that you may not yet realize in wanting to hire you even though you came o an interview with blue hair. Most would have showed you the door without an interview and I think hiring you was showing of great open mindness on the part of the hiring manager.

If you want style freedom you may want to look into places where you see employees who are free to dress in various options rather then traditional work attire.

Good luck and try to have some faith in the human race not everyone will be quick to judge based on hair color choices!

Answer 2

Heck no it's not legal, and not ethical either. You're boss isn't even your employer, they're just someone who works for your employer. If you're employer hasn't said anything about hair, this person can't go around and threaten you with your job if you don't comply. They're just pushing you around because they think you're 19 and won't stand up for yourself.

It's not a job where some middle manager gets to just make up the rules as they fancy, probably there are stock holders and boards of people who make an entire internal legal system in your company. Find out how to challenge this boss and show them that even a blue haired 19 is smart enough to know the actual rules.

Answer 3

Honestly, I don't know. I've seen hair color requirements in a lot of employee handbooks. It really depends on the job. When I worked at McDonalds, I don't think the boss really cared what color my hair was, but now that I'm a paramedic, I need to look professional, and I think an elderly patient would be upset if she called 911, and a blue haired medic came to help her!
I'm pretty sure that reasonable color guidelines are OK, i.e. a natural color.

Answer 4

I cant provide you with an article since I don't know where you
live. I do know the company I work for has an appearance policy
and hair color is not included. If I chose to die my hair blue
I would speak with human resources and if that does not exist
in your company then call your local employment office
to ask for advice. Companies where I live can ask employees
to change their hair color if its considered non professional they
may also ask employees to cover tattoos and remove facial
piercings which they have done. The law is on managements
side.

Answer 5

Private employers have every right to set standards for employee behavior and appearance. She had the right to ask you to maintain a conventional hair color.

All employers have a right to set a dress and appearnace code.

Grow up! If you are old enough to hold a job, you are old enough to realize that you can't look like a high schooler anymore. And even if you are in high school, realize that your employer has customers of all ages and walks of life. Maintaining a conservative or more conventional appearance is part of doing business.

If you want blue hair, get a wig.

Young lady! Your additional comments suggest you are indeed quite immature and you had really better grow up and accept the fact you are now OVER eighteen and in the REAL world of employment and adult standards for behavior and appearance which includes hair color. Get a wig for your days off and parties, etc.

Answer 6

I have 10+ years of experience as an HR manager, so here's the scoop - it's completely legal for her to interpret and demand that you follow their dress code. If you don't, she can let you go, and you can't sue over blue hair. It's not a protected class under EEO and no lawyer would even listen to you.

If they don't allow blue hair - you probably won't be happy there long term anyway. You should either stick around long enough to find a job that is more cool about hair color - or suck it up and go back to your natural color.

Good luck!

Answer 7

It is called a "Dress Code" and an employer has every right to establish a dress code and enforce it. At least you were offered the job. She could have simply turned you down and not told you why, but she saw something in you, and offered you employment contingent upon you complying with her established standards.

I'll tell you what... I absolutely hate walking into my bank after mowing the lawn, and STILL being better dressed than most of the tellers working there. It does NOT present a professional image, and I wonder why the bank had to scrape the bottom of the barrell to find those slobs...

If you don't like an employers dress code, you have every right to not work there.

Answer 8

Yes.. it is legal. No one was forcing you to take the job. You could keep your hair blue .. but you can't work for a private company if they don't allow that kind of thing. Some companies, now, not only don't let their employees smoke outside of their buildings .. but if they find out they are smoking at all , in their car, or at home, they can be fired. I saw that on CBS 60 Minutes.

Answer 9

I'd have to say that it's legal since she hired you and there's a right to enforce a dress code and have a say in what you look like so that would include extreme hair colors. Sorry I don't have any articles for you.

Answer 10

I have had many jobs that enforce a dress code, including hair color, tattoo's, and piercings. I don't know if it is illegal, but I don't think so.