OK, Here's my problem. I've been working at a company for almost 4 years. I'm starting to hear that they are asking guys with long hair to get haircuts, which as unfair as it sounds, doesn't seem to be illegal (I've checked.)
However, here's where the question comes in... I haven't had a haircut since before I even moved to this state... They hired me with long hair... I've been a redhead and even worn ponytails to work (which latter became a "problem" and "not professional"). What I want to know is if a company has a vaguely written policy (says guys hair cant touch or curl over collar -- doesnt specify that it must be cut -- putting it up hasnt been an issue thus far), that they haven't been enforcing for YEARS, can they just decide to enforce it all of a sudden?
Is there anything that can be said about this? I really like my job, but I draw the line at being told to make permanent changes to my appearance. My hair was fine for years and now its becoming a problem even though its been long enough to be pinned up for some time, which I've been doing with no complaint from either side.
Not sure if this matters at all in a legal sense, but in addition to the vaguely written appearance policies I kinda need to point out that alot of our standards don't seem to be universally written or take into consideration other races. I'm a minority myself and although I dont know if its a legal matter or not, but let's face it... we have to be clean shaved at work and black males are prone to hair bumps from shaving and since ponytails are now banned, ethnic males are the only ones who really have any real alternate way to wear their hair long. (I've never seen a white guy at my job with long hair [i'm assuming the ponytail issue] and all us guys wear twists, dreads or cornrows.)
Another note: They do allow facial hair if it's for religious purposes. I dont know if thats to be upstanding or to simply avoid being sued.. lol
I dont wanna get into some big racial thing. just wanna know if im being wronged on a legal level. I'm already looking for a new job before they start in on me next.
I'm sincerely praying that someone actually replies to this thread and dont just read it and move on. For a legal forum site, there seems to be a lot of people with problems, but very few with answers. Wonder if we're all just talking to ourselves. Hope not
However, here's where the question comes in... I haven't had a haircut since before I even moved to this state... They hired me with long hair... I've been a redhead and even worn ponytails to work (which latter became a "problem" and "not professional"). What I want to know is if a company has a vaguely written policy (says guys hair cant touch or curl over collar -- doesnt specify that it must be cut -- putting it up hasnt been an issue thus far), that they haven't been enforcing for YEARS, can they just decide to enforce it all of a sudden?
Is there anything that can be said about this? I really like my job, but I draw the line at being told to make permanent changes to my appearance. My hair was fine for years and now its becoming a problem even though its been long enough to be pinned up for some time, which I've been doing with no complaint from either side.
Not sure if this matters at all in a legal sense, but in addition to the vaguely written appearance policies I kinda need to point out that alot of our standards don't seem to be universally written or take into consideration other races. I'm a minority myself and although I dont know if its a legal matter or not, but let's face it... we have to be clean shaved at work and black males are prone to hair bumps from shaving and since ponytails are now banned, ethnic males are the only ones who really have any real alternate way to wear their hair long. (I've never seen a white guy at my job with long hair [i'm assuming the ponytail issue] and all us guys wear twists, dreads or cornrows.)
Another note: They do allow facial hair if it's for religious purposes. I dont know if thats to be upstanding or to simply avoid being sued.. lol
I dont wanna get into some big racial thing. just wanna know if im being wronged on a legal level. I'm already looking for a new job before they start in on me next.
I'm sincerely praying that someone actually replies to this thread and dont just read it and move on. For a legal forum site, there seems to be a lot of people with problems, but very few with answers. Wonder if we're all just talking to ourselves. Hope not
