Is it illegaL for an employer to require make-up?

Answer 1

Not if your job description requires make-up and it was established at the time of hire and it is consistently applied to all employees in a similar position.

Answer 2

Normally it would be, but there's one exception I know of. If you work for a cosmetics company as a salesperson in a department store, you are expected to wear the make up of the brand you sell. I worked behind the Estee Lauder counter once, and our work manual said things like "You are to be wearing an Estee Lauder lipstick at all times" and the same about nail polish. They did that because we always sold more of the colors we wore because people would ask for them. None of us had a problem with it because we all worked there because we were into cosmetics anyway.

If you're not selling cosmetics, I think it would be illegal for a company to require makeup, but they CAN require you to be "well groomed" or "professionally groomed" and that may have some leyway as to what it means, but usually it's just being clean with clean, brushed or pulled back hair and neat clothing. If you work with the public, they want you to look your best so you'll represent them positively.

Answer 3

Illegal: no. It is reasonable for any employer to require standards of professional appearance, so if the standard for professional appearance is to wear makeup, then it is reasonable that it be required. A good example of that is makeup salespeople being required to wear the products that they're selling.
If the employer is requiring you to wear makeup and it has no reasonable impact on how you do your job (customers never see you, etc.) then you may have a civil case for discrimination.

Answer 4

i doubt that it's illegal, but it really depends on your position at the job you have. with some companies, appearance is everything. it's the same concept as when employers say no visible tattoes or piercings... they don't want to take the risk that a small percentage of their customers/clients will be affected negatively. if you feel offended by your employer asking this of you, then maybe you should work in an environment where appearance isn't so important.

Answer 5

No. They can tell you to wear a clown suit and big red nose if they want. (And if they do, in some States, they'd have to pay the cost of it. If they don't, then it would be tax deductible.)

If you don't like their dress and appearance rules, your option is to quit.

Richard


ALL the above posters are missing the point completely. In *almost* all States, an employer can tell you to do ANYTHING that isn't illegal, and fire you if you say no. That's what "employment at will" means.

Answer 6

Depends on the job, the state, the reasons for the makeup. Can Disney require a mouse head be worn? Can David Copperfield make his assitants wear dark eye makeup while on stage? Of course. Would the answer be the same for a grocery clerk asked to do these things. Nope.

Answer 7

Not if the job requires the personnel to have a really good appearance for dealing with the public. Sounds like you must need a little help with your appearance and the boss thinks that make-up will do the trick. I hope you take his advice. It just might make your whole life better, might surprise you.

Answer 8

It depends; employers are allowed to set reasonable and appropriate standards for appearance. Depending on the job, a requirement for make up may be considered reasonable and appropriate, or not.

Answer 9

Depends on the job. If you work as a model or in a retail store selling makeup, they may be able to require it. If you are in an office job or they never told you makeup was required when you were hired, then they cannot require it.

Answer 10

That would depend on the job, but sounds more than a little strange unless you're a model or actress or something.

But even if you were flipping burgers at McDonalds and the boss required makeup, you'd have no legal recourse if you didn't wear it and he fired you.