Does my employer have the right to force me to change my appearance?
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Does my employer have the right to force me to change my appearance?
I’ve been working at a gym for 3 months. I have facial hair but it is very short and well kept. I was hired this way but all of a sudden my employer says I must be clean shaven.
Asked on October 9, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, New York
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
I'm afraid that you may be out of luck here. The fact is that an employer can enforce rules about how an employee's appearance; it is up to an employer's discretion. This is especially if the employee interacts with the public; an employer has a keen interest in how their employees look on the job. In "at will" employment arrangements an employer can hire/fire, reduce/increase salary/hours and otherwise impose reuqirements as it sees fit. So unless your employer's actions violate its own company policy, or a union/employment contract or is engaged in legally actionable discrimination, it is breaking no laws.
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