Really, I'm not taking anybody's "side". The manager/employee issue is not a black and white thing. Both sides have their valid points, and both sides are also full of shit, in certain respects. But dress codes are a fact of life in the real world. They apply both to employees in the working world, and customers also. I've seen numerous times signs at the entrance of fast food places and diners "No shoes no shirt no service". There are certain upscale dance clubs and popular night spots that won't allow casual dress. Sure, I could try to debate the constitution, discrimination, and my personal rights with the club manager, and tell him to fuck off, but being only 5'10" and not exactly the most physical person, I could get hurt pretty bad trying to take on the club's 6'5" bouncer or the cops who come to arrest me for trespassing. Regardless of who's right, I would still most likely have a police record for life, which will cause all sorts of grief (like getting a job or apartment). It just isn't worth it in this case.
Most workplaces, including Ronald's place, have dress codes, and many have ways of dealing with employees who attempt to challenge them. It is not that I'm taking the employer's side here, I'm just pointing out reality. Why gamble your job over a small issue as hair color policy? Again, termination is a severe reaction, but that's the way it is. If I were in that employee's shoes, I would change my hair back. It isn't worth it to lose your job over this. I'm sure that Quincunx and a few others will answer back "You wuss!" But that's my take on this issue.
Yes, an employer can and many do go overboard with rules and regulations. You can have unions out the wazoo and all sorts of labor laws, but that still will not eliminate workplace dictatorships, unfairness, or illegal actions taken against workers.
As for my part as an employee, I have told a previous supervisor regarding problems with my having to call her, instead of calling the Austin computer room when we had report transition problems. Did I win? Yes and no. In her last days, I was finally given the authorization to call Austin directly regarding transmission problems. My current supervisor doesn't want me working more than 8 hours. Although overtime would be nice, and I have told her as much, I didn't win this one. I also answered the employee questionnaire that we got 4 years ago. Some positive changes came about due to our responses, but the workplace still isn't perfect, nor do I expect it to be. Word from the grapevine has it that the top execs dismissed a lot of our responses as bellyaching, and they teminated the quality management division, as well as the questionnaires. But believe it or not it isn't a bad environment (It depends on the department). The trucking company I used to work for was much worse.
Personally, I think that a decent pair of jeans and a preppy T-shirt should suffice in most workplaces (but no, shitty clothes and radical hair colors should not be permitted), and I agree with you that ties suck. But the reality is that massive liberal codes won't be happening any time soon.
This is probably not the reply you were looking for, but I'm not the worst person on the planet. I'm just accepting, begrudgingly at times, that this is the real world.
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