If my employer wants me to shave my beard to I have too?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

If my employer wants me to shave my beard to I have too?

I don’t want too. The policy requires that beards be neatly trimmed but they want me to shave it all off. Do I have to comply?

Asked on June 5, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Texas

Answers:

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

An employer is free to change its mind as to the conditions of the workplace and to impose new regulations and terms of employment much as it sees fit; updating company policy regarding the dress code would be such an example. For your part you can choose to shave or be fired (or quit). This is what is known as "at will" employment.

The above holds true unless you have an employment contract or union agreement that forbids your being termiated for something such as this. Additionally, if your treatment will be the result of actionable discrimination, it would be illegal. In other words, there can be no discrimination in employment based on an employees inclusion in a protected class based on such factors as: race, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin (however having a beard does not put you in such a class).

Bottom line, a business has the right to put forth the company image that it wants. Seemingly unfair or not, it's the law.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption