Dress codes

[joskin69]

I was recently employed in a bar, I then changed my hair co,lour to a brigh red, my employers are now saying that my hair colour is inappropriate and are threatening to reduce my hours/ terminate my employment. Can they do this? There is no stipulation in my contract regarding this?
Jo

[kaztuz]

I don't see that they can do anything about the colour of your hair, as it is your freedom of choice. I can't see how it is inappropriate either seeing as it is in a bar. I think they are being discriminatory and I would have a word with Citizens Advice Bureau just to check your rights.

[redhead23]

do u have a contract with terms and conditions??? u should get advise from citzens advice bureau , also surely that is what they are looking for ? people larger then life , do not let them get away with that , u must get advise on this x

[joskin69]

Hi, thanks for your replies. Yeah I thought it was 2007, you know? The 21st century!
I thought that cosmopolitan Manchester could cope with diversity!!! It beggars belief really and I actually feel like leaving the job anyway. I do want to make the anally retentive manager see the error of his small mindedness and set my stall out to celebrate the creative diversity that most people find interesting, appealing, daring, a wee bit different, colourful, fun, exploratory and ooh so individual!
It's not as though having red, green, blue, pink or any other colour hair affects my ability to pull pints, get to work on time, clear tables, smile at and serve customers and make my colleagues laugh. What is wrong with this country?

*rant over
keep it real, keep it different! ;-)
Peace
Jo xx

[Buenchico]

This article, written by a solicitor, examines the legal position in quite some detail:
http://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2006/05 /23/35458/legal-qa-dress-codes.html

Chris

[joskin69]

Hi thanks for the link, I saw it earlier today and it is quite informative. My employer only ever stipulated that I would need to wear black clothes to work and this is the only reference to appearance in my contract.
Peace
Jo x

[buildersmate]

At the end of the day, irrespective of the rights or wrongs, unless you've been there at least 12 months, there's nothing you can do about it. You say you started work recently.