Law - Work; discrimination, appearance.

As some of you may or may not know I decided to cut my locks off for an internship at U.S. Bank under their business management department.

I have not actually gone through with it yet so I want to be sure that it's unavoidable to the best of my abilities.

#1 on my concern list - During my second interview, I was told that my locks weren't acceptable for the work environment. Further, that I wouldn't get the position unless I cut them off.

Now first things first, I have this on audio tape, as I record all of my interviews to improve my interviewing skills.

So we've established that I have proof. But the bigger question is, could I use this proof against them to get the job and keep my locks? I'm really not sure how strong of a case I'd have.

Another thing that comes to mind; declaring myself as a Rasta.
Would this have any impact on my ability to keep my locks?
Also how difficult/how much of a stretch would it be for me to declare such a thing?

#2 on my concern list - If none of the above is helpful to my situation, are there any other alternatives that could secure my position and my locks at the same time?

Finally, please do not come in here to flame or spam, it's not necessary or wanted. Kindly see your way out and go elsewhere.

 

Why are you asking a legal question on a Dreadlock forum? I'm just sayin'.

 

I would think that until you have the actual position, they can use any reason why you didn't get hired.

example - a better qualified candidate, another candidate interviewed better, another candidate had better experience.

It's come up in the forums before and someone suggests that if you can review past employees and there were any black employees that had dreadlocks, that you could use that as your case.

At first i was worried to about finding work with my dreads, but a friend of mine just recently changed my mind on the whole thing. I mean... I have a degree, I have great experience and I can ace interviews... why don't I deserve the job?

I will say that some jobs will flat out refuse me though. I live in a boring white town... very little diversity... I wouldn't be allowed to work front desk at the more prominent hotels and perhaps a few of the fancier restaurants... but the truth is, I'm a hard worker and would show up every day for my job... not many people like that around here.

I think you should have discussed it more at your interview perhaps. Now you're stuck. If you raise a stink, they certainly won't want you on board at this point. They explained to you the rules and you would be disobeying their rules if you did show up with dreadlocks.

Tough spot really.

 

lol at this entire thing.

 

Ahoy NFL … I’m gonna try this on a different thread, somehow we just not cool on that other thread

There is an old cliché saying that ‘locs is a lifestyle’ … well this is the starting point.

What you gotta ask yourself is how important it is to you. Now you mentioned that it’s not that important to you; not as important as having a career in bossiness anyway … so there is your answer, but what you shouldn’t downplay, is how important having locs is to other peeps.

Having locs and going through life dependent on others is completely different to having locs and going through life independent of others.

If having locs is important to someone, then the rational thing to do is work in a field where one can have locs … and this isn’t necessarily an easy task, some get it right from the start, but for others it takes years.

Now, this whole thing about using Rasta to validate having locs in an environment that opposes it, when you have already stated that you are Christian and place no significant emphasise on His Majesty … well c’mon Bro, do ya really think that’s gonna work?

On a more objective note though, if you claim you are Rasta, it’s a given that the peeps in that work environment are gonna assume that you smoke Ganja … that’s a guaranteed given.

At the same time, if you use Rasta to manipulate yourself into a position, say by using the cultural freedom card, you are gonna end up doing more harm to your potential career than anything else, cause when the internship comes to an end and you have to find work, either with the intern company or another, you not gonna get the support of the intern company … bosses don’t dig peeps pulling a fast one on them.

So bottom lien, you wanna go work in the bank, cut, if you don’t wanna cut, find a field of work where you can have locs … and don’t even bring Rasta into it, unless you are willing to endure all the negative stereo-types that come with it … And seriously Bro, Rasta, in the US bank …

One Love!

 

Did the interviewer know they were being recorded?

 

:lurk5:

 

Just cut your dreads and take the Job

 

it's up to you bro, make your own decisions don't ask strangers on a forum for a decision that could have a big impact on your life...

 

Just cut them and save them and if the internship doesnt work out crochet or super glue them back on

 

superglue works best.

 

What DonBK said....

Good luck either which way!

 

Yes

 

Then, in response to your original post, employers don't like to be forced to do things. Were you to bring any kind of legal action against them then you would be setting yourself up for trouble down the road... i.e. being cut absolutely no slack when you mess up and that sort of thing. If you are fine with cutting to get a position (a.k.a. working for close-minded, intolerant people), you should just do it.

 

Try telling them you'll cut them, then dont? Worked for me for a job I had.... the dreads grew on the manager and they saw my work and then didn't really care. a lot of people aren't as opposed to dreads as you think.. or at least don't show it? I get a lot of more interested/curious/complimentary comments then looks of disgust or anything, well that is after they started looking like dreads cuz i went natural/neglect. How important is the job, and how important are the dreads? Its up to you

 

I thought of doing what you mentioned as well.

A job is more important than dreads. This is not to say that I don't care for the dreads in a high regard.(Clearly, since I'm trying to avoid cutting them.) Just not as high as such an essential thing to life.

 

First of all, claiming that you are Rasta in order to keep your hair in your preferred style is shameful.

Even if you were Rasta, the courts would probably interpret the government's uniform policy with rational basis. In other words, is there a compelling government interest that would be met by not allowing locks in the workplace. They could claim it's for safety etc etc.
So, you can either become theirbaldhead bitch, or keep your locks and find a better job.

Shame shame shame

 

but "Everyone is Ras in their heart" ?

"Don't haffi dread to be Rasta" ?

 

what does that have to do with it? who are you quoting other than a reggae song?

we're talking in a legal sense, you have no grounds
in amoral and logical sense, you ran out of ground a long time ago.

 

dude nothing illegal about not hiring u fer dreads u have no case so dont even try that just cut and get the job