do i have to be clean shaven to work in a kitchen?

Question

is there an actual law that says in order to work in a kitchen you must be clean shaven? im talking like a kitchen in a retirement home, the boss is always getting on the employees about shaving and saying its a law in california, is this true, i mean even if its just a lil goat tee or a 5 o clock shadow?

im not talking about a full beard im talking about a very neat kept got tee trimmed with a number 1 clip, less hair than on ur eye brows probably. i mean some guys have more hair on the eyebrows in that place then on the face. i understand a full beard or long goat tee but im talking very very trimmed 5 o clock shadow type stuff.

also are beard guards an option i mean can he refuse to let them wear them?

Answer 1

It's a slippery slope, I'm afraid, and you have to draw the line somewhere. If your boss allows a 5 o'clock shadow or a goatee, then little by little other employees may try to get away with more facial hair. I detest shaving myself, and I believe it's one of the biggest cruelties modern civilization ever foisted on people, but in the food service industry I can see the necessity for it. Hair does harbor bacteria, especially around the mouth where food residue tends to accumulate. And while I'm sure you bathe and shampoo daily, other employees might not and that part of one's hygene is a difficult factor for a supervisor to control.

Answer 2

In Ohio, when I worked in a prison, the males in Food Service had to wear a mask to cover their beards & goatees. The rest of the face had to always be clean shaven. Both male & females had to either wear a hat or a hair net. The Health Dept. would have been on their butts if they didn't wear the protective coverings. Ask yourself this? Would you like to be eating a meal or sandwich, only to pull a hair out of your mouth?

Answer 3

They are some strange laws in California.

Different states have different laws. Have you thought about a hairnet around your beard? That may be an option.

Answer 4

In CT it's allowed. The only thing I've heard is that hair the goes past the shoulder must be pulled back.

Answer 5

You should be if you are preparing food for others to eat. No one wants to eat hair.

Answer 6

i don't know if its the law that you must be clean shaven.

but even if it is not, your employer has every right to demand you are clean shaven and if you don't comply fire you.

Answer 7

BS......no such law.....i have facial hair and worked in several high end kitchens

Answer 8

you may wear a ''hairnet'' type of device to protect the food.

Answer 9

would you want hair in your food? Hair is hair no matter where it came from.