I've driven for UPS part time for four years. During that time I also drove for DHL for a short while. Here's what I found out. Everyone else in the industry hates UPS, and not because we're more successful. UPS drivers have a reputation for being grumpy, mean, militaristic types who are overworked and always in a hurry. I've heard a lot of customers comment on this as well. People call UPS the "boot camp" of delivery services. So at least in this respect the clean shaven thing is actually hurting us. I really don't think that in this day, any customer is going to make their decision of whether or not to use our service v. the competition based on whether we have facial hair. And even if I'm wrong, too bad! UPS will just have to deal with it. I'm a lutheran and I wish to grow a neatly kept beard as a symbol of my faith. Yeah, look it up people. Am I required to? No, but that shouldn't matter because I have the constitutional right to worship how I see fit. And if that doesn't work I'm getting a note from my doctor. All you people who say, "you knew the rules when you got hired so why don't you just go work somewhere else?" That's erroneous. Employers don't have the right to make any rule they wish. That's why we have unions, and more important the EEOC. Because if it were up to UPS we would all be sporting brown and gold swastikas, and working for minimum wage because "it's what's best for the company." Please! Anyone who isn't in the military and thinks you should have to be clean shaven is a bitter old tyrant. Or a woman who doesn't like the thought of her husband's prickly kisses!
