Hair length as part of the dresscode

Question

I was wondering if this is generally normal and accepted as part of the dress code. My employer has no real formal dress code outside of not wearing jeans and t-shirts with print on them, but they do mandate that male employees all have short haircuts and female employees have at least shoulder-long hair.

I say mandate but I don't actually know if it's just something one of the owners says that everyone follows without trying their luck in resisting it, or if it's an actual mandate. As far as I know, nobody has ever been disciplined for it, although some people got told to get a haircut or grow their hair out.

Is a haircut generally considered part of the dress code and in the employer's purview to regulate?

These are all for non customer facing roles.

Answer 1

they do mandate that male employees all have short haircuts and female employees have at least shoulder long hair.

At least in the cultural context of Germany (or most other European countries), that seems way over the line. I work in Germany, too, and I have never heard of such a dresscode - not even in directly customer-facing roles (such as sales or hospitality), let alone in a non-customer-facing role. Long hair for men is not that uncommon in Germany, and short hair for women even more so - note that for example Angela Merkel's hair does not reach her shoulders.

I say mandate but I don't actually know if it's just something the boss says that everyone follows without trying their luck in resisting it, or if it's an actual mandate.

Then the first step should probably be to ask about this. Try asking about it in a non-confrontational manner (at least at first, you can always escalate later). Something like "I heard the company has some rules about employee appearance. What are the rules about hairstyle?". Then you can decide how to continue.

Is a haircut generally considered part of the dress code and in the employer's purview to regulate?

In general yes - however there must be a balance between the interests of the employer and the employee. In general, the employer may only mandate a specific dress code if there is a legitimate interest - such as customers expecting a certain style. Rules for dress code have been upheld by courts, but for the hairstyle rules you describe, I doubt such an interest could be demonstrated. But I'm not a lawyer...

Answer 2

Dress codes can, and do include hair. Disney Corporation, for example, mandates that no employee have facial hair. Walt Disney permitted himself a mustache, but he was the only one with any facial hair in the company.

Length, color, and style may also come into play. A broad term such as "professional" cut and/or style may be mentioned. A more recent code for hair is that no colorings beyond the natural range of hair colors has recently appeared in dress codes due to blue, pink, canary yellow, and other unnatural colors becoming popular with the younger folk. Uneven haircuts, unusual haircuts such as getting one side shaved, et cetera may be banned.

If a company starts going into detail, it generally means that a problem has arisen in the past and they are having to address it.

Usually, there is some flexibility in non-customer facing roles, but the inverse is true. In an organization where you have a customer facing role, and they have an brand they are concerned in maintaining, the dress code for hair can go to specifics of length, color, style, and even get to the point of having a list of approved haircuts as opposed to guidelines.

If you are talking about the entertainment industry, there may even be written into your employment contract, a clause that states that any change of appearance, including a haircut, without express permission from your employer is grounds for dismissal. This is how Disney continues to enforce it's no-facial hair policy, as employees are CAST MEMBERS

Answer 3

Dresscode usually only discusses hair for the most extreme examples, such as no shaving an offensive word into it, but this depends a lot on where you are from and the country you work for. This could be totally normal in your country, or it could actually be illegal (discrimination with different genders subjected to different rules).

Generally, other than the issue of gender specific rules, this is something that your company can create rules around if they wish, just most wouldn't create such strict rules if any. Keep in mind this almost certainly couldn't apply to any sort of religious cuts, such as beards, or a sikh man with long hair.

TL;DR In most countries it would not be unlawful to regulate haircuts, in my country (UK) it is unusual to be so strict however, but different rules for men and women may be illegal, and religious styles are probably exempt. Check the laws in your country of work

Answer 4

This answer will not help the OP I'm afraid but may assist others.

Here in the US. hair can play a part in the dress code. It is a firing offense in some cases, and in others just a "fix-it" type issue. Here are some valid examples, keep in mind that this is for the US.

• Natural Hair colors only - This one is pretty common.
• Not unkempt or unruly - Again common.
• Not shaved - Less common, and exceptions usually abound (like baldness or medical issues)
• Not too long - VERY VERY common in machine areas. This is a huge risk and in some ways (won't go into here) federal law.
• No facial hair - Common in food prep, though there are hair nets and beard nets etc, so some companies allow for those, others state "no facial hair" or "short facial hair"
• Broad statements like "Professional", "Hygienic", "Well kept" etc. - Extremely common but also very hard to enforce. Usually used as a "we don't care but could you make sure to wash it at least once every year or two" This is a very common practice and is usually a way to make sure you have some recourse should the person you just hired decide to stop bathing.

Over here (in the US) a company can make any policy they want regarding dress code so long as it doesn't violate any civil right or put any undue pressure on a "protected status". For example, I could say "blond only" as that would be legal. How ever I can't say "Natural blonds only" because it would add an issue of race into the mix. I could say "every one must have a full beard if they are male" but not "every one must have a full beard", because while some women can grow a beard, most can not. I could say "Natural colors only" but probably, could not get away with "Natural colors only, except no black." Again, because of race. I could certainly say "Everyone must dye their hair blue."

That being said, there would/could be legal issues. If the requirements put a "unfair" bias against a protected status, then there will be issues. And if the rules are too odd, then you get some bad press, and you better have a good reason.

For example if you ran a WWII museum you may say "no shaved heads". And when asked why, you could say that you didn't want to give the wrong impression. People would understand, and for the most part there wouldn't be an issue. At that same museum you could say "no hair over shoulder length." When asked why, if you said, "cause that's what I like." You may have an issue. At the machine shop next door, they may say "No hair over shoulder length" and when asked why say "safety reasons" and have no issues at all.

The point is this. In the US., laws that protect statuses exist but aside from those business are free to impose what ever normal or silly dress codes they like. These are not illegal, but odd dress codes may give you some bad press, and make it much harder to find workers. Specially skilled workers.

Answer 5

In the UK this would fall foul of sex descrimination legislation, in that you can't have different rules for men and women. So if a woman can have a ponytail then so can the men.

Answer 6

I can't comment on the laws and regulations in Germany. But to professionalism; if a company has a published dress code and requires you to sign acknowledgement of it as a condition of employment, I would expect to be held accountable if I did not do what I said I would. If a prospective employee does not believe they can adhere to the dress code, they would be advised to look for work elsewhere.

(I live in the US and both my current and former job had different dress code policies. The former being more strict to include hair length for both men and women.)

Answer 7

No, a haircut is not considered part of the dress code. Consider men with long hair, tied in a pony tail. There is nothing wrong with that and employers should not restrict employment based on this feature. It's just like facial hair or beards. There is nothing wrong with them, and they are not part of the dress code.

A dress code only applies to clothes. Hair length, hair colour, tattoos and facial hair are part of a different behavioural code. Sometimes it is called body art, sometimes it is called appearance policy and sometimes it is called corporate policy. It is up to the employer, but it doesn't mean it is fair or morally right.

Note that from an employer's point of view, I might agree with weird earrings or offensive tattoos, but hair should never be an issue.