Policy Banning Extreme Hair Colors Upheld - Society for Human Resource Management
A former employee who was repeatedly counseled for wearing bright-burgundy braids unsuccessfully claimed that her termination from employment was based on race discrimination when the employer was able to demonstrate a consistent application of its personal appearance guidelines.
The plaintiff, who is black, worked as a customer service representative for United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) at its facility in Overland Park, Kan. During the plaintiff's employment, all employees at the facility were subject to UPS's personal-appearance guidelines, which state, "Hairstyles and hair color should be worn in a businesslike manner." It was uncontroverted that the policy prohibited hair colors such as purple, pink, fuchsia, crimson and burgundy, and that UPS enforced the guidelines on several occasions. In June 2014, the plaintiff reported to work with "micro braid extensions" in her hair that were burgundy with blond highlights. The HR manager counseled the plaintiff that her hairstyle and color did not comply with the guidelines and that she needed to change them. The plaintiff removed the braids within two months of this meeting.
A former employee who was repeatedly counseled for wearing bright-burgundy braids unsuccessfully claimed that her termination from employment was based on race discrimination when the employer was able to demonstrate a consistent application of its personal appearance guidelines.
The plaintiff, who is black, worked as a customer service representative for United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) at its facility in Overland Park, Kan. During the plaintiff's employment, all employees at the facility were subject to UPS's personal-appearance guidelines, which state, "Hairstyles and hair color should be worn in a businesslike manner." It was uncontroverted that the policy prohibited hair colors such as purple, pink, fuchsia, crimson and burgundy, and that UPS enforced the guidelines on several occasions. In June 2014, the plaintiff reported to work with "micro braid extensions" in her hair that were burgundy with blond highlights. The HR manager counseled the plaintiff that her hairstyle and color did not comply with the guidelines and that she needed to change them. The plaintiff removed the braids within two months of this meeting.
