Dreadlocks and cabin crew

[Kintoa]

Hi

I've joined here on the advice of a friend. I work as cabin crew for a large British airline (not BA).

I have recently been off for an extended period on maternity leave and during that time grew some lovely thick dreadlocks, celebrating by ethnic backgorund and culture.

However on return to work the company has said that the dreadlocks contravene their uniform policy as they are unclean and unhygienic.

I believe that this is discrimination against me being from afro carribean background and that employers had to ben over backwards to celebrate and acommodate diversity.

I am contemplating taking legal action but as I am not in a union I wondered if anyone here has any experience of this or similar issues?

Thanks

[Flap62]

I believe that this is discrimination against me being from afro carribean background

How is having dreadlocks an intrinsic part of your ethnicity? Is it defined by any legal or religous requirements? Do all people from afro-caribbean backgrounds have dreadlocks?

The answers are of course no. It is simply your preference to have them and the company have no requirement to "bend over backwards" to accomodate you.

[SloppyJoe]

I am sure you have grooming standards laid down at your airline which were there when you joined. I expect it says something along the lines of hair will be neat, tidy and blah blah whatever else. It may be in your culture that dreadlocks are accepted as a normal style of hair but you work for a UK airline where they are considered by many to be scruffy. I don't think you have a leg to stand on, oh actually you are in the UK aren't you, you could probably win a court case as the UK is so overly politically correct that if you even utter discrimination or racial oppression you will win, unless you are white and British of course :O

[Doodlebug]

I would be put off my food if served by somebody sporting a festering mess of unwashed 'dreadlocks', as would many others. This has nothing to do with ethnicity, it has everything to do with hygiene. But of course you'll plead discrimination/racism, and no doubt you'll win. :rolleyes:

[fernytickles]

Afro-Caribbean - to "b"s, not two "r"s, by the way, relating to the Carib people, not the Caribb people....talking of celebrating ethnicity etc...... :rolleyes:

[intortola]

I have seen American Airlines flight attendants with dreads, they looked clean.

[LH2]

To the OP:

Much as I am of the opinion that having "grooming standards" (other than a general "be clean" kind of thing) sounds utterly stupid, unnecessary, and old fashioned, that's the way it is at the moment and confrontation, especially over such a minor issue, is unlikely to help anyone, least of all yourself.

To the two idiots I have just relegated to the ignore bin: I don't think this thread is meant as an invitation to show your racist twattery. Just what kind of inferiority complex do you people have? :ugh: I bet you're bald too :rolleyes:

[SloppyJoe]

I can see no racist comments on this thread at all. People have stated their opinions but in no way is that racist. I have nothing against dreadlocks, what I don't like is people saying they may take legal action because of discrimination, if a white person had dreadlocks I am sure they would be treated the same way by the company so its not discrimination. You are the only one who has brought racism into this. Rather childishly as calling people racist twats and saying you have ignored them is very immature.

The OP wanted opinions and she received them, hopefully she will decide not to start legal action and just do what anyone else who came into work with dreads would do when told not to have them, black, white, indian whoever and that would be to change their hair.

I once applied to the fire service in London and was told no unless you are of an ethnic minority. Not sure if it still like that in the UK but that is why I said she may win as its the UK. That does not make me a racist, I hate discrimination of any kind.

[Yellow Pen]

I sense trolling on this thread and I think I know who's behind it. This, of course, has absolutely nothing to do with BA, or their recent 'diversity' course.

[Kintoa]

Whoa

I didn't expect that reposponse nor be picked up for spelling due to mile dyslexia.

I do believe it is my right to have dreadlocks but I'm not sure how to fight it. Why shouldn't I if they are clean and tidy?

I believe it is racist not to allow me to do so.

[Yellow Pen]

Well you might have to fight that one yourself, which I would imagine could be difficult given that:

a) you didn't have dreadlocks prior to maternity leave.
b) the ban on dreadlocks applies to all races equally.

I could be wrong but I don't believe dreadlocks are a religious or cultural requirement of any race or religion. If that is so then they are merely a personal style choice of yours and your employer has every right to dictate which styles are acceptable in the workplace.

[vctenderness]

Whoa

I didn't expect that reposponse nor be picked up for spelling due to mile dyslexia.

I do believe it is my right to have dreadlocks but I'm not sure how to fight it. Why shouldn't I if they are clean and tidy?

I believe it is racist not to allow me to do so.

I think the problem is here that you seem to have taken the opportunity to grow dreadlocks whilst on extended leave. Now knowing that your company does not allow them you decide you will accuse them of racism.

If I had been away from work for, say, three months and decided to dye my hair pink I could not expect my company to accept it on my return. I know its not exactly the same argument but you get my drift.

If you had applied for a job and they had said we wont employ you because of your dreadlocks you may be in a better position.

[Kintoa]

Well I disagree.

My ancestors fought for freedom and now I have my human rights and freedom curtailed by some guide. Not acceptable.

I believe there is institutional racism at play here.

[Alehandra]

Hi Kintoa, my first post too.
I think your airline would interpret your dreadlocks rather as a fashion statement than a religious necessity, hence them telling you to get rid of them. To be honest you didn't have them when you joined, why do you need them now? And this is why I don't think you'd win a court case based on dicrimination.... But then, I think it is down to the airlines uniform regulations. Different airlines, different regs. I too work for a large british airline; the other one. Not too long ago I flew with a crew member that also sported an ''afro look''. Hence me thinking it might be allowed at our airline. It was more the David Beckham one, than a Bob Marley one e.g. Still, did it look nice on a crew member in uniform? My taste would say no. But that's just my taste...... I don't know how long your dreadlocks are, but maybe they would also hinder you using a smokehood propperly....?! I know it must feel patronising when told by someone that you can't wear this or that. But these seem to be the rules at your employer. Don't challenge these rules and you won't find yourself in the position you are in now. With regards to religious reasons....can't see that happening. Sorry love, don't put yourself through any unnecesary grief. Even more so since you have a newborn that will surely profit from a relaxed mother. Just my thought. All the best;)

[strikemaster82]

You have been on extended maternity leave and on your return, with hair against your company's uniform standards, you contemplate that they may be institutionally racist?

Good luck with that, but remember the rest of us on this forum who work in uniform have to abide by our respective standards, so are unlikely to be sympathetic.

I suggest you comb out your dreadlocks and have a think about your priorities, ie your new-born. Once again, good luck.

[possibleconsequences]

Kintoa,

Why do you believe it is your right to have dreadlocks? Or any other such hairstyle etc that is not in line with the company policy. If you join a company and sign their terms and conditions you accept them surely? I don't know if there's any 'health / cleanliness' issue with dreadlocks but if the company has a policy you don't like then don't join it! If you plead discrimination on the grounds of race you will simply provide more ammunition for real racists (and their don't appear to be any here contrary to LH2's post), as you will simply increase the perception that racism is a convenient accusation used against employers, against which they dare not fight. There are many things that people might like to wear that employers object to; tattoos, brightly dyed hair, piercings, 'scruffy' clothes etc. These are not objected to any racist or anti-religous basis, simply as the company has the right to project an image to its customers as it sees fit.

[Shack37]

I am contemplating taking legal action but as I am not in a union I wondered if anyone here has any experience of this or similar issues?


Your available choice of unions might be a little busy just now to fight a one person dreadlocks legal battle. There could also be a few spare CC around soon looking for employment. Are the dreadlocks THAT important to you?

[Kintoa]

Well it would seem there is a swell of opinion here against my views. That is fine.

It has given me something to think about but people are definately right to say where my priorities lie.

I suppose I wont have the money to figt anyway and I need my job.

Thanks for your (in most cases) reasonable comments.

Disappointing but reality I suppose.

[possibleconsequences]

Kintoa, i posted my previous post then noticed you'd added


"My ancestors fought for freedom and now I have my human rights and freedom curtailed by some guide. Not acceptable.

I believe there is institutional racism at play here."


I'm afraid this comes across as rather selfish. Most of our ancestors fought for freedom of one form or another, you don't have any special place in society because of that. On the human rights issue, this now gets flung around as a convenient cry whenever someone thinks they don't want to do something they don't like, it doesn't attract any sympathy, indeed most people i know regard it as a sort over used sulk. Also 'some guide' is presumably the company guidelines. These are put in place to allow the company to project the image it chooses, helping it to compete globally and to pay its staff. Without such successful companies we would be bankrupt as a country and your human rights then might consist of free soup each evening. There's a balance, we all make compromises on how we would ideally like to live in the knowledge that overall this makes life better for all.

[SloppyJoe]

My ancestors fought for my freedom also, and yours. I expect most of them would agree that if your company does not want you to have dreads you should not have dreads. You work in a service industry where image is important, your company knows this and wants their crew to look smart and professional, you may look very good with dreads but they have to draw a line somewhere, so if no dreads is the policy then I am afraid its no dreads. Good luck if you decide to be stubborn and use the racist card even though it is the same for crew of any race. All you are doing by this is devaluing what your ancestors fought for which I am sure was not so that their descendants could get past rules for everyone by claiming it is racist.

[Kintoa]

Sloppy and possible

See my post above yours. You both make intelligent points for me to think about and it has made me think.

I must say that this thread here has forced me to look at things from a diferent point of view once the anger from what happened at work calmed down.

I agree that it would be in no-ones interests to claim racial isues here. I guess in the longrun that it devalues cases where the abhorrent issue of racism occurs.

Also my husband has just come back, heard about what happened today and my reaction, read this and told me not to be "so bloody stupid" and do as the company requires and not to risk the job that we need.

Thank you

[ottergirl]

Hi Kintoa,
Congrats on your new addition firstly.

I live with a 'diversity' expert and he deals with questions like yours day in, day out so I asked him what he thinks. As there is no religious requirement for dreads (we are presuming you are not rastafarian) or even a strong cultural 'norm', his feeling is that a legal challenge would be unsuccessful. Also if it is stated in your uniform wearers rules then you could be said to have agreed to it when you joined. If not though, it could be one managers interpretation in which case your best approach would be to trial it internally as a grievance against that individual. You could try to demonstrate that there were no hygiene issues around your dreads and that you undertook to have them regularly redressed in order to keep them immaculate for work.

Or you could just enjoy looking at the pictures of when you had them and get started on a baby brother or sister!

[Juan Tugoh]

Hi Kintoa,

congratulations on your new addition. Sounds like you are doubly blessed as you have a husband that can see through to the crux of the matter and give you some sound but blunt advice! Sounds like he is also blessed that you can take such advice as well.

Keeping one's perspective can be hard when a situation angers you, seems like you have a wise head on your shoulders in seeking opinion from others before launching into a battle with your employer. Even more importantly you have listened to that advice and seem willing to act on it, many people would not have done so. Enjoy your return to work.

[fernytickles]

told me not to be "so bloody stupid" and do as the company requires and not to risk the job that we need.



That made me laugh :) Sometimes other halves just have a way of bringing us back down to earth.

I had been thinking after posting earlier. My ancestors (probably/possibly) fought for their freedom, but that doesn't make me demand that I should be allowed to wear a kilt (or whatever the people in my cultural background used to define themselves - bearskin/grass skirt) to my workplace. Imagine if everyone did that? If the medical team who just helped you with your baby all came in wearing bones thru' their noses & ears, or feathers in their hair etc, etc and a tiny piece of cloth to cover up the parts we don't all need to see, might you have thought this a little odd?

A uniform gives uniformity, if you work in an environment where uniformity is required, self-expression has to find a different outlet.

[Kintoa]

Ferny

They do indeed have that ability to bring perspective on things.

My decsion has been taken and the hair goes.

Next baby God willing, I'll grow them again!

Ottergirl

Thnaks for taking the trouble to ask your friend on my behalf.

Juan

I am indeed blessed.