Beards and work?

Maybe the wrong forum but is an employer allowed to tell you whether you can have a beard or not? I was on co-op years ago and was leaving it grow until the fascist I worked for told me "we don't want George Michael here" or something like that in German. Could and should I have told her to go **** herself or did she have a point? I should point out that the work was restaurant/bar-ish work, sometimes taking orders but sometimes working behind the scenes with deliveries etc

waraf

Good question. I know that lots of places won't allow you to grow a bread if you are generally clean shaven. For example I am told by a friend of mine who works for a major Irish bank that they're not allowed to grow beards. However, if he was to go on holidays for a couple of weeks and come back with a beard that's fine.
I guess what they are trying to cut out is lads coming to work with a few days stubble and claiming they're growing a beard when in fact they're just being lazy.
Having said that, if someone really wanted to grow a beard I find it hard to see how an employer could really stop them. It's definitely not something you could get sacked over unless you signed a contract that specifically stated that you must be clean shaven (which I have never even heard of).

I think since it was only co-op I should have told her to sack me if she wanted or to **** off.

Kenno90

it's strange where i work , all the middle aged men 30-40 year old can have facial hair , but us young people teens to 20's get told off ,

just last week i got told off for having one days worth of stubble WTF?!?!:mad:

glenjamin

My mate has a beard! Beat that suckers.

brianthebard

Kenno90 wrote: »

it's strange where i work , all the middle aged men 30-40 year old can have facial hair , but us young people teens to 20's get told off ,

just last week i got told off for having one days worth of stubble WTF?!?!:mad:

because stubble looks untidy. And especially young guys who are only getting used to growing hair.
Dunnes won't let you grow a beard but generally if you have one when you start the job its ok, although they probably still have standards for trimming and stuff (yeah dumb). I grew a beard while working for Londis and nothing was said, although it was a part time job and I trimmed it into a goatee as soon as I could to try and not get told off. So a few days stubble before work during the week, few days off, trim and hope for the best.

Dord

glenjamin wrote: »

My mate has a beard! Beat that suckers.

And? a lot of people here have beards. Its not a competition, well except for the world beard championships. :pac:

Back on the subject of the thread. I work in an office and grew my beard for about 7 months last year just trimming it a little bit to keep it neat. There were a few smart comments as you usually get when you change your appearance. But there were no problems with management. It depends entirely on the company though, the place I work for is pretty relaxed.

KTRIC

When I worked in Hertz years ago my boss pulled me into a meeting with HR. He actually said my long hair and beard was off putting to the customers (was in IT so internal customers). I kept the hair and beard fairly neat, so I didn't see the problem and neither did the HR people. They couldn't believe he actually said that.

I reponded by taking hold of the little gold cross around his neck and reminding him what Jesus looked like. That shut him up.

noby

I thought long hair and a beard would be mandatory for IT folk.

KTRIC

noby wrote: »

I thought long hair and a beard would be mandatory for IT folk.

It is, thats were we get our special "IT" powers from

Just don't tell anyone.

phatkev

i work part time in a cinemma i got long hair and a bit of a beard and its all cool:D

waraf

phatkev wrote: »

i work part time in a cinemma i got long hair and a bit of a beard and its all cool:D

Is that cause it's dark in a cinema?

elshambo

waraf wrote: »

For example I am told by a friend of mine who works for a major Irish bank that they're not allowed to grow beards. However, if he was to go on holidays for a couple of weeks and come back with a beard that's fine.

Thats because you cannot descriminate against someone because of a beard

You can stop someone growing one (untidy, dirty looking, health and safety etc)
but if they take time off and grow it, you cant touch them

Which leaves us with the mental situation where a Chef for example cannot cook food with one day stubble as he might get a hair in the food BUT can grow a big mountain man beard and shed into the soup like no ones business:rolleyes:

Deleted User wrote: »

Maybe the wrong forum but is an employer allowed to tell you whether you can have a beard or not? I was on co-op years ago and was leaving it grow until the fascist I worked for told me "we don't want George Michael here" or something like that in German. Could and should I have told her to go **** herself or did she have a point? I should point out that the work was restaurant/bar-ish work, sometimes taking orders but sometimes working behind the scenes with deliveries etc

Having worked in pubs etc i must agree that barmen (and women) should be clean shaven, especially where food is involved

And i say that with 3 weeks worth of bumfluff on my face

elshambo

noby wrote: »

I thought long hair and a beard would be mandatory for IT folk.

When i worked in IT and went a month or so without a shave one of the girls in the office would eventually say something
"growing a beard? suits you"
to which i would reply "no! why?" and come in clean shaven the next day

I dont work in offices anymore;):D

sitout

phatkev wrote: »

i work part time in a cinemma i got long hair and a bit of a beard and its all cool:D

Thats one of my dream jobs

ladhrann

brianthebard wrote: »

Dunnes won't let you grow a beard but generally if you have one when you start the job its ok, although they probably still have standards for trimming and stuff (yeah dumb).

Funny, I did an interview for Dunnes a couple of years back and was told that they have a 'clean-shaven policy' and that I would have to shave to work for them.
Also was told, by a hotel in Galway that a goatee was fine but that the manager a 'thing' about beards. A goatee FFS!!! I can see him yet eying that poor French waiter.

I think that having a beard, always very neatly trimmed, but still a beard has cost me many job interviews. Its astonishing how narrow-minded this country is. I could never shave it off either, I'd look like a child.

JIZZLORD

when i'm off for a bit i generally grow a beard. my company allows beards and long hair as long as they're kept neat. Though i've noticed from some customers (generally older women) that when i've had both i wasnt approached as much.