designer stubble? i work in a hotel and my employers are asking me to ....?

Question

provide a note from a doctor why i wear stubble on my face. I have worn stubble since i first started growing hair on my face. I wear it because i have somewhat a baby face, and i like the definition it gives my face. I have been working at the same place for four years with no problem, but now they are saying i need a note from a doctor saying why i should be able to keep it. is this right? I like the way it looks, plus guest always give good feedback about my attitude and appearance. My manager has no problem with it, but our corporate office if houding him about it, I am in Savannah, GA, and they are in Dallas TX. I think its crazy.. am i wrong? should i start shaving for them now??

http://www.mensflair.com/grooming-abcs/designer-stubble.php

work contract says must be clean shaven or well established. i consider my stubble established. i have had it for over 12 years.

Answer 1

when you don't shave and have stubble its considered that you are not clean and you not presentable to there customers, But why after 4 years they don't like it could well be they are trying to change the image of there company or they have had problems with peoples appearance in other hotels so they bring in rules that applies to the whole company .

Answer 2

Hmm it must be related to the fact that they think that stubble means unshaven and scruffy, and so if its quite a posh hotel they may not find this in keeping with conveying a polished and professional image......and sadly if its comin frm the top they are the ones with the power and it must bug them alot to mention it, considering you're not even management and youve come to their attention somehow....

Personally i think it sounds ridiculous, theyre asking you to prove its due to skin probs (which assume its not and they probs know to) so basically they seem to think theyre going to win and get you to shave it off.
If it is just a thin layer of stubble i actally think this could be rather sexy and surely attractive staff make a business look better in a strange way i.e. the psychology that attractive ppl are more successful, from a better class, better in general accoriding to our image obssessed society. However if its a bit more like say v long stubble that is more than fashinable day or two old stubble but not quite a beard then does it look at all scruffy? If it genuinely doesnt look scruffy im not sure they can er make u shave or sack u if u dont, would seem extreme if they can, but if it looks v scruffy they could perhaps take action if you cant get a docs note as they could argue youhad an unkept appearance and that image is their business etc and that yu werent meeting your job spec e.e. m applying at the moment and all manner of jobs seem to list well kept neat appearance.

Personally tho as i said if it is just 'designer stubble seems pretty mad, i recently quit a PGCE (teacher training), and teaching is a porfession where u cant wear certain things and couldnt say have piercings or prominant tattoos but even they let teachers have stubble that is neat....tho not to the scruffy stage (this would again be the failing to meet job spec thing). Also the fact that it was ignored for 4 yrs mite smack of victimisation over anyting they can come up with, and mite be worth a thought if anything else thats happened could suggest this or u can think of events that have happened and why they mite want to victimise u.

I think if its day or two old stubble that is still neat and tidy then ok and i think theyre being harsh and you should argue your case a bit, tho in the end they will win if they seriously hate it and it may be simpler in the long run to shave!!!, or if it looks v unkept and is longer thn mere day or two old stubble they mite have a point on the unkept, giving hotel bad image thing and they may have a point. It may be theyre cracking down on poor image as part of a new initiative or it may be that its personal but that would ultimately depend on how the stubble looks......im sure there are some types of work that actually dont allow it because of the unkept image.

If you look good with it hope you do get to keep it tho, sucks when u have to change to fit in with a job, but sumtimes u do have to i.e. i have a friend whos a goth and dressed v outlandish thru college and university but now hass normal colour hair of a regular length as he wudnt have got a job if he didnt and he wudnt keep it if he reverted to it.

Answer 3

You are not wrong ask them to show you where in your contract it says you have to be clean shaven I always like a bit of stubble on my face i don t think i look right with out it.

I bet there is no part of the contract that says you have to be cleanly shaven there may be a part that says you need to look smart if there is ask them to define smart I had this same problem in a place i used to work

Answer 4

As long as you are well presented and well groomed, I personally like stubble, it makes younger men look really sexy. Beards and stubble do provide definition and contouring in the same way that women's make up can. It seems unfair to me.

Answer 5

Sounds like some over-enthusiastic upstart is trying to make a name for themselves. You need to examine your company guidelines regarding dress-code.

If, however, you handle food or drinks then your stubble needs removing or covering to comply with food hygiene laws.

Answer 6

i dont think you should shave it because if the guests like it, then isn't a hotel about customer service and how you have to fill the customer's needs? i don't know maybe that helps a tad

i hope the hotel chain is not hilton or choice

they are sooooo picky

Answer 7

OMG! DONT SHAVE FOR THEM THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW IT COMES UNDER THE DISCRIMINATION ACT.
AS LONG AS YOU DONT SMELL AND YOU GET YOUR STUBBLE ATTENDED TO I.E LOOKS TIDY WHAT IS THE `PROBLEM TO ME IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE JUST LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE TO SACK YOU.

Answer 8

I don't understand why they would have a problem with that...it looks good. That's stupid.

Answer 9

i cannot say for sure about laws on your side of the pond, but in England if they not said anything in 4 years it's way to late to mention it. tell em to go f**k themselves.