I feel discriminated against at work?

Ok, so when I first started working at mcdonalds.

I went to the interview with retainers in my lip piercings.

and the manager that interviewed me. told me that i had to remove my lip rings.

(retainers and all)

its been about a year now. And throughout that year. I have seen many piercings within the work place. Such as nose, tongue, gauged ears. which I let slide.
then the latest.. someone came in with there lip pierced.
And the manager that told me to remove mine. Said that this persons was ok.
yet my retainers arnt?

Also, asides from the piercing thing. I feel harassed by my co-workers. including managers. The managers give me last choice of stations. and my co-workers always heckle me and call me emo. and whisper behind my back. Also it affects the hours i get as well..
what should I do?

volcomsurfer10

you chose non-conformity, now deal with it. I am not trying to hurt your feelings. All I am saying is that get rid of the black hair, the goth eye make-up, the studs, as well as the lip and eyebrow (and wherever other body part) piercings. As far as the lip piercings are concerned, it just puts people off in work restaurants. Like, can THAT get in their food (echh)

Dress conservative and you'll be surprised at how people will treat you differently. Wear a conservative blouse and tie and long non-ostentatious pants. They'll see you as Normal TM. It's the best deal in the house. You'd be surprised how many opportunities will come knocking on your door. It is a message to society, it says to society, "I care."

billy p

UPGRADE TO WENDY'S

Danielle

i used to work in mcdonalds myself and i no the prodedures and what they are supposed to be. you are not supposed to wear any peircings as the are a hygene hazzard as peircings carry dirt and bacteria, at the end of the day it is up to you what make-up you want to wear or what colour you want your hair to be, try to talk to one of your managers about this bullying at work from your other collegues but try not to talk to the same manager that gave you your'e interview, if they dont help you then i suggest you talk to the head office and say that if something isnt done about this issue then you will go to the tribunal as this is bullying at work. either that or unfortunatly the most easiest option would be to get another job but then that doesnt solve the problem. good luck

jobbend

If you are in the US, go to www.eeoc.gov and look up Discrimination. Generally, discrimination in the legal sense doesn't apply to piercings. Also, you say you feel harassed, you should also read the part on Harassment.

That said, if there is a company standard of dress that addresses piercings, and it is a written policy that is being enforced selectively, that is something that needs to be addressed. The way to do it is professionally and with credible evidence of the inequity. It might sound something like:

"I have a question about dress code. When I was hired you asked me to remove my lip piercings - and I have. I've done a good job for the past year, and I like my job. What I have noticed recently is that there are several people with facial piercings, including lip piercings working with me. I'd like to be able to wear mine as well, and feel like I have been singled out. Can you help me understand this?" Then wait for the answer - don't talk, just listen carefully.

After you work through that, then it's time to tackle the treatment by coworkers. Read the EEOC definition of harassment again. If the "heckling" you are experiencing is covered by this law, then it's time to speak up to your manager. Again, you need to have credible, specific evidence. What is being said (exact language), by who, when and for how long. Once you have a conversation with management and the evidence is on the table, generally they have a "duty to act", and to research and find what exactly the problem (if any) is - and get back to you with an answer.

If you approach these situations this way, and nothing changes, you are in a better position to quit and be covered by unemployment so you can at least have some kind of income while you look for a better job. Which by the way, is what I would tell my friends to do - look for a better workplace.

Jo king.

get a better job,McDonald's is not exactly a wise career move dealing with people from different ethnic backgrounds who most likely don't understand you nor your feelings

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