McDonald's

Hach8 · 2012-08-08T20:42:32+00:00

Yes, Dress Codes are an example where men are significantly discriminated against, but women seem to dominate the discussion so heavily with their complaints about skirts, dresses and heels.

This is demonstrated through all levels of male employment, as well, except for a few out there or extremely blue collar positions. In lower paid employment, men have to wear slacks and a uniform and have strict hair length requirements.

At the top level men are required to wear the extremely limited business attire - suit, tie, etc., while women are allowed much more leeway, often not requiring a jacket, having many different styles of blouses as options, and having more options when it comes to suits.

It isn't a huge deal, but it is an example of gender based discrimination.

opk · 2012-08-08T19:38:53+00:00

This seems more like a crappy boss creating a dress code thing than a real issue. I mean, I know it sucks, but thats the brand image the owner wants to create - neat, clean cut, etc. My suggestion: don't worry about it. If she is this anal before you get the job, just think about how she will act if you work there...

Kastoli · 2012-08-08T21:59:33+00:00

[permanently deleted]

Bobbsen · 2012-08-08T20:48:19+00:00

Good thing you didn't apply to UPS. Those guys are insane compared to that.

SageInTheSuburbs · 2012-08-08T22:29:45+00:00

Apply at a few pizza places, they tend to be less strict in such matters, in my experience. They also don't suck as hard as fast food joints.

Irrel_M · 2012-08-08T20:32:48+00:00

Just imaging working with them and realize that you were lucky.

SchrodingersRapist · 2012-08-08T23:34:46+00:00

It sucks, and I have dealt with the same thing having started to grow my hair out at the age of 15. You can find a lot of places willing to overlook it, especially if you can build up a good set of references.

While it is bias because it allows different dress codes for the genders, it mostly goes back to the thoughts about presenting a professional image and what people think it means. The company or store manager/owner wanting to put forth a clean cut image to the public or merely being unwilling to hire those who are not because they lump them in with negative connotations such as slackers. From the years I have had applying for jobs it seems that the point isn't to be discriminatory because of your sex, merely that men wit long hair get labeled as lazy, dirty, and a plethora of other things.

About 4 years back I applied for a job at McDonalds. I was told they couldn't hire me with long hair because it was a food handling concern. It was laughable excuse, and there were multiple women working there who had longer hair than mine. Still after reading my application(I was seriously over qualified and listed the classes I was taking at that moment) the store manager said they were looking for an assistant regional manager and would have them contact me. I did get a call back surprisingly and setup an interview at the very same store later that week. I went through and answered all of the questions and she seemed pleased but it came to the end that they could not hire me unless I cut my hair, due to professional image.

Edit: Also just to add, consider you might have dodged a bullet for another reason. There was for a long time a job I couldn't list on my resume and constantly had to doctor it up or I would just have a 6 month hole in my employment. I was hired as a bagger at a grocery chain store back in my late teens. After 6 months I had the manager impressed and everything was going alright. The regional guy shows up on day during my shift and evidently pitched a bitch fit to the store manager about my hair. I was fired at the end of my shift for "not adhering to the company dress code" when I told them I wasn;t cutting my hair for a job I had held for 6 months.

My advise is if you aren't willing to cut your hair for a job, a position I understand, try different areas. Fast Food places will not hire you and are flooded with applications. In the current economy they can be picky as shit about who they hire. You're 18, so try some construction companies, warehouses, local delivery companies. Mostly those places don't give a damn about your hair as long as you show up and do your job. Unfortunately even though the dress code is discriminatory based on your gender it goes back to that professional image and complaints about it will realistically fly about as far as a lead balloon.

ghebert001 · 2012-08-09T01:19:22+00:00

Get the name of the woman who denied you the job, get the store number and file a complaint to their head office.

2012-08-09T02:01:28+00:00

Sue them

I mean it. If people don't make a fuss, they will keep getting away with crap like this.

rightsbot · 2012-08-08T19:14:18+00:00

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ebryan433 · 2012-08-08T21:50:49+00:00

If you're in MA, I'll sue for you.

mikesteane · 2012-08-08T23:20:24+00:00

I was once in a McDonald's drinking coffee (I have too much regard for my health to eat any of their food) when another customer complimented one of the staff on her figure. She told him "yes, it's because I don't eat here." Not relevant to your post, but I thought it was funny.

waffebunny · 2012-08-08T20:53:36+00:00

My brother-in-law ran into a similar situation. He's got over a decade of experience in the restaurant industry - working front of house, in the kitchen, in the back office - you name it.

Anyhow, after a management massacre at his place of employment, he went looking for a new job. (He wasn't fired, but the new management cut his hours from full-time to exactly one shift in two weeks - a dick move if ever there was one, and I wouldn't be surprised to discover most likely an illegal maneuver to force people out the door.)

He hit up a restaurant that was just on the verge of opening, and needed no less than thirty new hires. They ended up turning him down (and didn't even bother to call to let him know). We later scoped out the place once it was open and wouldn't you know it, the front counter was occupied by a block of young, blonde women. We even found out, later on, that the place hired my daughter's old babysitter - a great girl, but just out of high school and absolutely no formal experience to speak of.

Funnily enough, my brother-in-law did get in at a small, local restaurant - and not only is he thriving, but they are currently trying to hire more servers in his age range, as the younger staff are simply not as invested in their work.

2012-08-08T19:16:20+00:00

McDonald's are franchises so each owner makes his own rules. Write him/her a letter and complain. See what happens.

Papabudkin · 2012-08-09T07:49:45+00:00

I have some friends who are Native American and have long hair. If you want a lawsuit, that's the way to go.

2012-08-09T13:13:16+00:00

I had to deal with this all through my teen years. Had to cut my hair most of the time to get a job. Now I have my BS in Engineering, am working on a second degree, and work with the federal government. All while having long hair. As long as you're willing to put it up in a hairnet (hygiene. for food service), there's no reason it should be a hindrance.

I know that feel, bro.

pippisyk · 2012-08-10T17:52:00+00:00

Almost all min wage jobs have ridiculous dress codes, on top of being shitty min wage jobs...that's why they are notorious for being the bottom of the barrel/last resort of employment.

This is not an issue unique to men.

OuiCrudites · 2012-08-08T22:33:22+00:00

Apparently you must not need the job that much.

Hair grows back, dude.

(Yes it is a double standard.)

Title	McDonald's
Author	groovydude4911
Upvotes	44
Comments	32
Date	August 8, 2012 7:13 PM UTC (14 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/xw9t8/mcdonalds/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/mcdonalds.1016278 https://theredarchive.com/post/1016278

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