Hello all.In response to the hair and ear-ring debate I think it is quite definitely wrong and descriminatory for any employer to treat any of it's employees differently. I am also an employee of McDonalds, male, and have been told by my store manager and store owner on several occasions to have my hair cut, despite my offers to wear a hair net or tie it up. Threats to remove me from the rosters have been common, and I know of at least three people who have been fired for this very reason. I have been told by the store owner, possibly attempting to convice me, possibly in defense of his policy, that "the more conservative you become the more successful you will be", "if you get your hair cut girls will like you more", both of which I find downright insulting. I have been told on occasion that this store owner has also referred to several of his male employees as homosexual due to the fact that they wear ear-rings, with the use of some bland 'witticism'. I am absolutely certain that this kind of thinly disguised slander is not permissable in any modern workplace.
More on the subject of discrimination. I am well aware of the fact that different dress standards are considered appropriate for males and females and this is in order to promote some kind of image, as I have been told. Now, I don't mind wearing any kind of uniform to work, or acting any kind of specific way when I'm at work, but have the haircut which McDonalds is demanding that I have is clearly infringing on my private life. In addition, the fact that female employees are allowed to have their hair any length or style cannot be fair practice. As another point, lets take a look at this image that Mcdonalds is attempting to portray with these kind of policies: that it's customers are ignorant sexist conservatives who only believe in the kind of personal expression that's exactly the same as everyone elses.
: Like Mick Jagger says, "You can't always get what you want". Some : companies do go overboard with rules and regs, but if you think : you're going to get your way on everything in any workplace, then : it's time to get real. And really, why get your bowels in an uproar : over ear rings and long hair?
If we're on the topic of long hair being feminine, outmoded prejudices and testaments from music stars (however irrelevant, it seems), here's one from legendary musician and composer Frank Zappa:
Interviewer: Frank, you have long hair. Doesn't that make you a girl?
Frank Zappa: You have a wooden leg. Does that make you a table?
On that note I would just like to ask all of you out there in internet land whether this kind of sexism is actually legal in any workplace? If it is, and what a sad state of affairs it would be, then I propose we force all women to wear a veil when in public, deny them the vote and employ a male of any qualifications over them regardless. I mean, if we're going to live in the dark ages of ignorance and descrimination then we might as well go all the way. It's only fair...
Thanks for listening,
Justin
None.
