Can I be fired from my job because I won’t cut my hair?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Can I be fired from my job because I won’t cut my hair?

I have dreadlocks.

Asked on December 13, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, New York

Answers:

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

I'm afraid the you'll have to visit a barber. Legally, an employer can enforce rules about how employees look; this includes hairstyles. It is up to an employer's discretion as to what harstyles are or are not acceptable to it. This is especially true if the job involves interaction with the public. In customer service positions, an employer has a strong interest in just how its employees look. In employment "at will" relationships, an employer can hire/fire, reduce/increase salary/hours and otherwise impose job requirements as it sees fit.

Bottom line, unless your employer's actions violate its own company policy, or the terms of a union/employment contract, or is in some way constitutes legally actionable discrimination, it is breaking no laws in your case.

Note: Legally actionable discrimination is discrimination that results from a person's belonging to a legally "protected class". A protected class is one based on a person's inclusion in a group due to factors of race, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, etc.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption