Can My Boss Make Me Shave?
There was a time when employees were treated like dirt and barely paid, but times have changed, well, at least a little. Thanks to the changes brought about by hard work from unions, attorneys and other organizations, we now have extensive protections as employees in California.
Recent additions to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act code 12926 amended with AB 1964 adds even greater protection for religious freedoms as expressed through grooming and dress. The existing statutes offer protection from discrimination in employment and housing under the following guidelines:
-Your marital status
-Your age
-Your national origin or ethnicity
-Your physical or mental condition, or any disability thereof
-Your genetic information, such as predisposition for hereditary illness
-Your sexual orientation, gender identification and gender expression
The addition of AB 1964 now gives protection based on “Religious Creed” so that you have protection based on your religious beliefs and/or heritage with regards to dress and personal grooming.
So what does this really mean to YOU?
Simply put, your company or a company you are applying to cannot discriminate against you based on your wearing of religious based clothing such as a head covering or specific dress dictated by your religious beliefs, or require you to change grooming habits, i.e. shave your beard.
The new parameters are rather broad, but if you dress or groom in a specific way because of your heritage or beliefs, that practice is most likely protected under the new statute.
It is important to note however, that you do not have protection where food safety or operational safety is concerned. If a position requires tight fitting clothing so as not to get caught in moving machinery, and you cannot remove flowing, lose fitting garments because of your beliefs, then you can be denied the position as you would pose a risk to yourself or those around you. In addition, you cannot refuse to work near someone of a different religion or lack thereof or demand to be isolated yourself.
If you believe you have had your rights violated or you have witnessed others suffering discrimination in your place of work, we are here to help.
Call United Employees Law Group, we are waiting to offer guidance and help you get the compensation you and your coworkers deserve.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock/goodluz