Problems @ work because of dreads.....

I really don't even know how to begin to describe my indignity and frustration.

I guess that from the topic you should have an idea of what's going on, but I'll fill you in the details here.

This is half rant, half a cry for help. Here goes....
(bear with me, English is not my main language)

I've been working in this world-wide, very-much-known communications company for about 4 years now. I started as a tech support guy, helping monkeys get connected to the internetz via dial-up/dsl/wifi... later with cellphone configs, evdo crappy equipment and so on... and so on.... since the beginning I had troubles cuz I wore (and still wear) earrings in my ears and eyebrow. Then I applied for a NOC position, I really absorbed all I could from the wireless side and it bored me to death (plus other shit that was going on); so I got the NOC tech job. I am currently Tech II, been almost 2 years in the position. Even though my bosses are naturally-bald jerks, I have managed to survive & learn while I'm at it. Everything was fine. About a year ago I decide I would grow an afro cuz there were techs on the same place with lengths to their mid-chest. (straight hair, obviously) - people in general (even some other supervisors that do not belong to the same area as me) began questioning my afro.... since I had always shaved my head like a good little soldier. I told 'em I was going to have dreadlocks and everyone was cool. A year and some months have passed... and another BIGGER company bought us about the same time (a year ago) and now, out of the woodwork, they send an email and specify in one of the clauses: NO DREADLOCKS

Now... to the really funny part. Those clauses were written in the body of the email (my boss did it) and he included in the email, as an attachment a copy in .PDF format of the official dress code of the company. I'm going to share this paragraph with you: (copied from the official document)

Hair
Hair will be well-groomed and visibly no longer than shoulder length, including the length of ponytails. If longer than the shirt collar, it will be pulled into a ponytail. If the ponytail is long enough, it will be tucked into a hat and kept out of site at all times without exception. Extreme hairstyles, such as odd coloring or alternating patches of shaven and long hair, will not be worn. Hair may require further confinement for safety reasons while performing certain jobs involving machinery or electrical power. Facial hair will be well-groomed and trimmed. Normally clean-shaven areas will remain clean-shaven. Beard stubble will not be worn. New beards or mustaches must be grown only during vacation periods.


Now, some questions I have:

Can someone here please point out where they say anything about dreadlocks?

Is it really discriminatory if my straight-haired co-worker is allowed to have his hair long, but up to the shoulders and I'm sent to take my dreads off?

Is there any way I can take any actions against this?

Any input would be really appreciated.

 

damn, are you in america?

 

"Extreme hairstyles, such as odd coloring or alternating patches of shaven and long hair, will not be worn."

Pretty sure that they would consider dreadlocks under extreme hairstyles.


As far as taking action; I doubt the ACLU will head up your cause any time soon. =/

 

it doesnt say anything regarding dreadlocks, yet there are those in babylon who see locks as dirty and dread the very sight of them. Thats how the term dread(ed)locks was coined.

Even still if the dreads went past your shoulders they would be in a fit about that. Its a lose lose for you.

Though it really seems like they are over stepping their boundries as a work place. I wouldnt stand for it, but I am not you so dont let me influence you.

 

You could make a lawsuit if you wanna prove that your Rasta and your hair has religous meaning. My man did that once...it never got as far as him having to go to court...he just told his boss that his hair had religous meaning...showed her the copy of the kebra negast that happened to be in his truck...and spoke a little about RasTafari and such...the lady didnt want to get the company in trouble and so made an exception. However if your not Rasta you could either pretend to be for the sake of keeping your job or accept that dreads are an alternative hairstyle and evidently and unfortuanetly will not be tolerated at your job...so maybe find a new job??? Sorry.

 

Puerto Rico is a colony of the US. =\

and just in case you are wondering, no... I don't have to face any clients. EVER. just 2 monitors and my phone.

 

It doesn't say anything about locs specifically but it does highlight on extreme hairstyles. Provided you could pull it back if they were longer I would think you'd be in the clear if it were just your natural hair out. Not sure about the dreadlocks though because like I said it mentions extreme hair but doesn't touch on locs specifically.

I will say that when one company buys out another one, the workers of the purchased company are automatically subjected to the rules of the purchasing company BUT there should be provisions made as far as time and ways to bring those "new" workers to code.

I'm not clear if there's a chapter of the ACLU in PR.

 

Hes most likely mixed race hes from Puerto Rico so I dont think pulling a race card would work too well. Im pretty sure Puerto Ricans have more Taino blood than African American anyways. Dunno what to tell you man your dreads looked pretty neat since you have that coarse textured hair I dont see what the reason is but maybe try sitting down with your boss and talk to him about it and let him know the way you feel about the new situation.

 

Reading that paragraph angered me. I can't really offer any advice, but my blood boils for you brother. Because I mean there are bigger injustices in the world, but this is over something so petty as hair. It's just hair. They can go fuck themselves. I want to end this with something empowering. Um. Oh, I know - Stick it to the man.

 

i would post my latest (and last?) pics of my dreads... but my internet is being bitchy. >_<

 

Hi

You may have an out as it is rather ambiguous. They have included exclusions.

They state that longer must be worn in a hat. That means there is an allowable concession. I would immediately start to wear a hat when at work. That way you are conforming to policy without cutting or actually changing your hair.

Most companies do not want a hassle nor do they want grievances. Policies are generally only enforced if obvious or blatant disregard is present. They would normally warn you that it needed to be changed so you might want to wait for that.

Try a hat.

 

That's true. But hats aren't allowed in my dept. or at least I've never seen one.... (they have stated it thousand times before... no caps, no hats)

I think I'm going to the union with this... since there's so many differences from what the official rules say and the workplace.

This really sucks ass.... like if on my hair depended the performance of my job.

Bureaucracy is so idiotic.

 

I see a way around this, wear your dreads up in a ponytail at work.

 

I cant. They are not THAT long enough yet. (if i could post pics i would) btu if you go to my albums, they are more-so like that. I've been growing them for about 8 months or so.

 

I personally would explain that it's for spiritual and other personal reasons. If you have one single religious reason, such as being rasta, I would save that to pull out after spiritual with no further explanation fails.

If worse came to worse, I don't think I would continue to work there, I would make damn sure EVERYONE knew that I was quitting in protest if my employer tried to force themselves on my body like that, in a job where you see customers it's different, but if you have an internal job, FUCK that. (if you're the good, on the ball, on call, yes i'll fix your printer, email, and wifi just because i'm nice type of IT, people may stand up for you. otherwise, you have a job that's frequently douchebaggy and disliked, and may not get help.... depends how nice and knowledgeble you are)

*edit* if it says you need a hat to cover hair, that supercedes the hat rule, they can't tell you both. Go for it with a hat if you need to.

But if you have to quit or cut, and want to do as leroy says.... check out "recipes for destruction: an anarchist cookbook", and maybe "steal this book" for some fun ideas. (steal this book is outdated but fun)(you DON'T want "the anarchist cookbook". different, shitty, irresponsible book)(bunch of similar books that i havent checked out yet at anarchistcookbookz.com, if i remember right)

 

you have no real recourse for action my honest advice.. cut your dreads , and bring the company down from the inside

 

just wear a hat, man. if they tell you to take it off then, what are they gonna say when you have dreads underneath.

get a nice hat though, one plain color, pure white or beige, no logos. and wear it snug. i bet if you take my advice, before you know people will forget you even have dreads and think the hat is sewn to your skull.

its what i did when i worked at a health club. i just wore a pure white tam all the time while at work. and when they became long enough i started to pull em back in a pony tail. no complaints except for when i just started them, they told me to put a hat on.

 

thank for the advice, guys.

unfortunately not hats can be worn here, but I already spoke with the union delegate. Of course, we have offices on Africa and the Virgin islands (even Jamaica) and he said all rules apply GLOBALLY. That's why they can't specify dreads on the dress code document.

so far so good.... let's see what happens at the end of the day.

 

Wear a bald cap.

 

It says if hair is long than your shoulders you can put it a pony tail. How long is your hair? Did you go neglect/natural or Rip and tiwst/backcomb? The reason I ask is that if you went neglect, and kept your hair short, no one would ever know.

But if they are at 8months bc/r&t then they would be a bit more obvious. Enquire about the hat, and in the mean time go for the pony tail.