My Rights! - my manager has asked me to shave.?

Bill

You have the right not to shave.
He has the right to fire you.

Beards are not protected under discrimination laws, unless you have some sort of religious requirement (Sikhs, for instance). Choose accordingly.

I-like-to-answer-you

You have the right not to shave it, whereas he has the right to fire you.

ruthietoothie1972

Start with your company's dress code....you should find your answer there.

AlwaysDriven

Look under the "uniform" section of your job agreement. It's going to be in there. If it's not, then your manager has no grounds to write you up. It's not Nazism getting you to shave, it's simply a matter of presenting a professional appearance in the workplace, and making a good impression on anyone that might happen to see you regardless of whether or not they're a customer.

dowcet

Unless your stubble is for religious reasons or something, your boss can legally tell you to shave or be fired. And unless you have a whole lot of money saved away for legal fees, it may not matter what the law says.

L B

No, if there is no health and safety issue and you are not in direct contact with clients then he has no right to ask you to do this. However it is his business and he has the power, so I would be fairly careful how i handled the situation. Firstly. If you have a union then seek their advice.

I would be inclined to just calmly, and in a friendly manner, ask the manager what his reasons are. Make a note of the reasons he gives you, in case the subject comes up again.

Tell him how you feel - that you are neat and clean and punctual and doing your job well and ask him in what way he feels your beard affects your ability/performance.

He can't make you do it but his own behaviour is moving towards bullying or harrassment. so keep a record of these occasions and the manner in which he approaches the subject in case it goes too far. at all times remain calm, friendly and pleasant but assertive.

Don't give him an excuse to sack you for another reason.

Fred3663

Contact your HR department and ask them if there is a company policy on appearance

TedEx

yes, he can fire you for insubordination.

everyone's mom

The request is legal and has been held up in court challenges. It is not discrimination for an employer to have a no-facial hair policy unless it affects a race, religion, or disability....

bobthecactus

stubble looks messier than a full beard, and even if you don't work with the customers face-to-face you're still representing that company. i doubt he can fire you for it though

Rolyn R

How can you be clean and tidy with stubble?? It looks untidy and makes you seem lazy. Grow a proper beard or be clean-shaven. Why don't you shave???Too lazy or do you think the unkempt look is 'cool' like dishevelled hair?
I'm with your boss on this one.

uhohspaghettios

ok this guy has major problems....
anyone who hires a person should just let them do their job...stubble isnt harming anyone.

Beth

Look at your contract. Are you an employee or an independant contractor? In either case, if you state is an at-will employers either he or you can quit/get fired and he OR you do not have to give a reason why.

If you are not working in a clean room, nor with food-yor boss probably just wants you to look like a "team member" and if no one else there was a bear (even stubble) they may be targeting you for it.

I wouldn't shave it off. Employers like this just want to find something different about you. If you have it off-he will just find something else that is different about you-and tell you to change that as well.

If you have the money-get a lawyer. I would NOT sue them if they keep you there. If they sue YOU, that is when you need a lawyer. I don't know how big your company is, but if it is small--they probably won't sue you.

If you enjoy your job-then don't quit! I would stey their! If you read your contract and their is nothing stated about a beard or stubble-then don't worry about it.

Ignore your boss! I wouldn't say, "Why is not this in my employment contract?" or, "You didn't tell me that I was not allowed to have one on my interview". That alone can get your fired!

How long have you been at this job? If you are new-less than 90 days-they may be trying to test you! Since you don't work with customers-I don't see any problem.

The best thing you can do when your manager asks you to shave. Just smile. Don't say anything. Your boss can only do one thing. Respond to your actions!

brian t

Are you male or female?

patrick24399

as you do not have direct contact with customers there is no law that can make you shave. Your boss would not have the right to fire you unless there is an established dress code for the company.
Should your boss continue to harass you I would suggest that you take a grievance out, if you are suspended, take your boss to an Employment Tribunal, yes you can use an ET whilst you are still employed.
Best advice is to get legal or union advice!

-Mr Z-

say it's part of your religious beliefs.

Ross F

get a doctors note that you have light/acnr, or skin irritation and you cant shave more than twice a week. i worked for wetherspoons (wage slaves) and we had to be clean shaven or a definitive line. Their may be something in your contract about appearence/uniform. but id still persue a doctors note (a couloured card if your in the forces to all you army peeps out their)

CatLaw

If you do have an employment contract, look at that document to see if facial hair is mentioned. If your contract means that you are in a union, discuss this with your union steward. Without an actual employment contract you are an 'at will' employee which means that your employer has the upper hand and can terminate you for any thing except discrimination. See www.eeoc.gov for a list of what is legally considered discrimination. Facial hair is not protected.

Even with a contract the employer may reserve the right to determine the appearance of the employee. You may want to look at the employee handbook or company policies to see if appearance is listed.

The next step is up to you. It seems to me that shaving is a lot less expensive than being suspended without pay or fired or suing your employer. It would also be a lot less stressful on you. In addition if your supervisor is writing you up for this your employment record is going to look very poor. Legally it does not matter that you do not work with the public, the legal issue is that your supervisor told you to do something and you refused.

As an aside, if you are terminated the employer will probably say that you were fired because you refused to follow an order from your supervisor -- insubordination. In many states that is considered "misconduct" which could mean no unemployment benefits.

glowmay

Yeah, you DO have the right not to shave, but he has the right to fire you...

get a new job if you can coz he's just a big meanie.

sara

If you feel he's just picking on you, call the head honchos and discuss it with them. see if what your boss is doing is right.

hot trot gurl

would you rather have fuss or a job like duh
you decide not a hard decission rite

ÛžÛžÛžÛžÛžÛžÛžÛž

i would defiantly look into this matter you should have the right to have a beard if you wanted one and it's got to grow somehow, say you was muslim for instance they have beards as far as i know it's part of their religeon and i used to work with food where a muslim worked too he had a long beard and because he worked with food he had to wear a special net. so i don't see how your not aloud to grow a beard when you don't even work with food, there's an accosiation called ACAS look them up on the internet U.K. they have loads of laws and rights for employment on their website.

p.s will you let us all know what happens please?

byebye

tell him you're muslim

Expert Realtor

You don't have a contract stating you "must shave'.

You ALSO don't have a contract stating you can keep the nasty stubble either.

Having stubble is not a socially protected social class.

To me, it's about sanitation, hygiene and professionalism.

Stubble is NOT acceptable in the workplace. It is NOT professional. My employees either have to have a trimmed beard or clean-shaven...there is NO in-between.

The 80's -look is OUT.

:.:Mrz. C Holden:.:

No he can no suspend you. It is freedom of appearence and he doesnt have thwe right to tell you how to look unless it was in your contract.

UR MANAGER IS ON CRACK!!! u should stand up for urself or quit if things dont change

Mrs. J Williams

My son was fired from a fast food because the manager told him to shave .He don't have any more facial hair then he did when he started. She asked him to leave and he replied only if you tell me to clock out i am not just going to leave but now his unemployment claim is being appealed do he have a chance to win

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: