• 10
  • July
    2011

Many companies in San Francisco have dress codes in place. Although the codes vary from one place of employment to the next, they all get down to the same basic principle. Dressing nicely at work helps maintain a professional work environment.

However, the term "dress professionally" can mean different things in different contexts. In addition, there are other factors that should be taken into consideration when determining how well an employee performs his or her job. But what happens when companies discriminate against individuals who dress professionally, even when they meet all the other job criteria.

One employee was recently driven out of her position at a department store because she refused to wear makeup. Although her dress and makeup was consistent for more than four years, she was eventually forced to leave because of her barefaced look.

During her four years with the department store, the woman was described by her manager as one of the best employees at the company. She went without makeup to her job interview and was never told during her time at work that she was expected to wear "full makeup at all times."

When she refused to wear makeup, a manager offered her a makeup workshop, and she was told, "You can see what you look like with makeup."

By the time she was driven out of the company, she had worked there for five years. One afternoon, a senior manager saw her and sent her home for refusing to put on makeup. The following day, she was assigned to work in the stockroom. While there, she was given two options - she could either begin wearing makeup or she could leave.

Regardless, she continued going to work without wearing makeup for another year. Finally, during a presentation to numerous employees, a new floor manager stated that she wanted all the girls to be "made up." She was transferred to another store. After working there briefly, she quit. In a letter to the company she stated that she felt as though she had been driven out and forced to leave.

Sadly, this is not the first company to discriminate against women for their appearance. Two years ago, a woman won more than $14,000 when the company hid her in a stockroom to keep her prosthetic arm out of public view. It is not year clear whether the woman from the department store will file a lawsuit.

Source: Inc., "Would You Fire Someone for Refusing to Wear Makeup?" Courtney Rubin, 6 July 2011