Can my company ask me to limit my hair styling?
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Can my company ask me to limit my hair styling?
My natural hair color is dark brown and about a month ago I colored it blonde (a natural color). I receive a call from my manager asking me to clock out because the regional manager thinks is unprofessional to have blonde hair. I was asked to clock out and not come back to work until my hair is dark again; on top of that, I was told not to style it how I usually style it. There are women in the company with contrasting highlights on their heads, and women w different color hair. However, I was the only one who was told to change it.
Asked on July 13, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Illinois
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Yes, your company can do this. A company has the right to put out dress and grooming guidelines generally, or to specifically instruct an employee how to dress or groom--including hair styling. Since they allow other women to highlight, this does not appear to be sexual-based discrimination; and if not discrimination on the basis of sex (or race, religion, age or 40, disability, etc.), an employer may treat one employee differently than another.
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