Employer demanding I remove piercings

24-01-2008 08:08PM #1

I've been working in a music store/phone store with serious delusions of grandeur for nearly a year. I have had a number of piercings since day one. Tonight I got a text telling me that I was not to wear any piercings of any kind any more. He told me if I didn't like it to find another job.

Can he do this? I could understand if he had said it when hiring me but nearly 9 months later demanding that I do this. Anyone have any info regarding this situation or been in a similar one?

Mr. Presentable · 24-01-2008 08:13PM

Yes he can do this. When in retail you are representing the company and it may not suit their image to have a person with piercings. In much the same vein as some companies requiring staff to wear uniform or suit. I just wonder why it only came up now - perhaps there's something else bothering him

24-01-2008 08:20PM

I have to wear a shirt and slacks also now. I think it's very unfair that he suddenly changed his mind and then texts me about it. He could have at least had the decency to say it to my face when I was in the shop earlier today. II was always inder the impression if an employeer hires you with piercings and does not mention it being a problem at the start cannot decide at a later stage to demand they be removed.

garthv · 24-01-2008 09:24PM

Theres f*ck all you can do about it,
Considering you are working in a music store you aare easily replaceable (no offence but theres millions of students out there without piercings who would jump at the chance to work in a music store). Either take em out or get a new job

daiixi · 24-01-2008 09:28PM

tbh I'd want a copy of the old policy on piercings in writing and a copy of the new policy on piercings in writing. If it was always policy and they're now just enforcing it I'd tell them to go shove it and that they shouldn't be discriminating on grounds of piercings. But that's just me.

Melion · 24-01-2008 09:28PM

You should have an employee handbook, it will state it in there whether or not you are allowed to have piercings.

The place i am in Shannon airport doesnt allow any male piercings but they are ok for females, very irritating.

24-01-2008 09:36PM

There is no company hand book. Hell I don't even get a pay slip which I believe is illegal. There is no policy in operation, he just changes what is and is not acceptablewhen it pleases him.

AckwelFoley · 24-01-2008 09:39PM

I've been working in a music store/phone store with serious delusions of grandeur for nearly a year

LOL.. made me smile.

Remove them or get another job.

I say get another job.. where piercings do not matter.

Although puncturing the skin freak me out.. its your image and you are haappy.. so roll with it

truthinwords · 24-01-2008 09:48PM

He can't change the working conditions after 9 months without consultation and agreement. Also demand a payslip and if he doesn't produce one I'd take legal advice because he could be evading taxes.

xtruthx

jhegarty · 24-01-2008 09:56PM

truthinwords wrote: »

He can't change the working conditions after 9 months without consultation and agreement.

yes he can...

TelePaul · 24-01-2008 10:05PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Hell I don't even get a pay slip which I believe is illegal.

Quit already dude

Shelli · 24-01-2008 10:14PM

http://www.employmentrights.ie/en/

Call or email the people at NERA (link above), they're brilliant, they'll tell you exactly how to deal with your unreasonable boss.

hairyfairy00 · 24-01-2008 10:40PM

If there are females working in the store and they also have piercing but he has not asked them to remove theirs you could throw the 'ol sexual descrimination card at him

24-01-2008 11:15PM

Thanks for all the advice. I would love to quit my job but I am going back to college in September and need the money. I've sent an email to NERA so hopefully they will have some advice.

longshanks · 24-01-2008 11:24PM

also if something has been an acceptable practice all along, then i think there could be some kind of rule stating that it cant be changed without compromise or consultation.

DILLIGAF · 25-01-2008 12:27AM

truthinwords wrote: »

He can't change the working conditions after 9 months without consultation and agreement. Also demand a payslip and if he doesn't produce one I'd take legal advice because he could be evading taxes.

xtruthx

fact

I can back this one up. Employers must state any special conditions prior to employment. If you have a tongue piercing in for the interview and they take you on they cant ask you to remove it a year later. stop listening to the nabs here who say your helpless.know your rights mate,this is one of them

25-01-2008 12:33AM

DILLIGAF wrote: »

fact

I can back this one up. Employers must state any special conditions prior to employment. If you have a tongue piercing in for the interview and they take you on they cant ask you to remove it a year later. stop listening to the nabs here who say your helpless.know your rights mate,this is one of them

You have a link to any evidence of this. I'd like to be able to hand him proof that I am entitled to keep my piercings in.

tricky D · 25-01-2008 01:11AM

You've been there a year you say. There is the argument that this is now a change in working conditions/practices which, despite not being explicitly listed in any contract, do actually impicitly form part of that contract 'by practice' (that's the legal term you're looking for). Essentially the contract is being changed without negotiation which they can't do, unless it something positive for you like a raise or some other perk etc..

Only 6 months ago in a previous company, one of my rates was reduced by those management people due to some new positions taking up a part of some of my roles. After a quick word with an employment lawyer friend who advised me on the above, I ended up going to HR mentioning his advice and they quickly undid that mullarkey.

Reku · 25-01-2008 07:45AM

Deleted User wrote: »

There is no company hand book. Hell I don't even get a pay slip which I believe is illegal. There is no policy in operation, he just changes what is and is not acceptablewhen it pleases him.

They are required by law to give you some form of payslip, whether it be paper or electronic (pdf/word file) is entirely up to them.

Lockstep · 25-01-2008 09:33AM

Ah yes I've been there.

For some reason in Dunnes, visible tattoos were ok. But ear piercings on guys werent. I was told to take it out and didn't. THe manager used to be a sound guy but had it in for me after that.
In fairness, I was on a temporary contract. They didn't like me and I didn't like them so I wasn't bothered about losing the job as they were hard pressed enough for staff that they needed me at the time.

What I found really ridiculous was their policy on ear piercings. One guy I worked with was told to go away and find something to cover his earing. He couldnt find anything so they stuck some duct tape over his earring (!) which made it even more noticable and just looked plain silly.

Silly Dunnes.

Crumble Froo · 25-01-2008 10:16AM

hmph, i used to work in a place that would allow only wedding rings. no watches, bracelets, other rings, any visible piercings, nail polish ...

and no, it was nowhere posh.. i was working the till in ****ing centra.

Mr. Presentable · 25-01-2008 10:27AM

Were you in drapery or grocery, kickoutthejams?

In grocery health legislation forbids the wearing of earpiercings where there is food, though such piercings may be covered with a plaster. So, in your example it may be that it was not the appearance that was the problem.

Le Rack · 25-01-2008 01:43PM

I'm in dunnes too, in grocery, one of the girls has her nose pierced, I've my tongue pierced and one of the boys has his eyebrow pierced, at first he wore a plaster over it, but now just wears a clear bar, retainer or keeper, whatever ye call em, and a bunch of us have tragus done, they've not said anything to any of us, the only thing they seem to be strict on is hair...a brazillian dude had a tiny bit of a..not even a beard, twas a little line down his chin and all the managery people got on to him and made him buy shaving stuff and shave during his break, even did it to the security guard!

OP, if they hire you with piercings and nothing is said either during interview or trainging day they can't turn around a year later and say, hold on, get em out, even my piercers were telling me it, cuz my folks had me freaked going to an interview once, over my tongue piercing so i went in to get a clear bar and he said that if they're gonna see it, best let em see it during interview and if it's not a problem then it shouldn't be a prob during employment

Lockstep · 25-01-2008 02:53PM

Le Rack wrote: »

a brazillian dude had a tiny bit of a..not even a beard, twas a little line down his chin and all the managery people got on to him and made him buy shaving stuff and shave during his break, even did it to the security guard!

Such a strict policy isn't done for women.

You should have seen the women managers.
Most of them had tashes like Hitler.

I mostly worked in a freezer round the back,
if I was lucky I'd get to stack toilet paper in the lovely warm store.

mick.fr · 25-01-2008 03:07PM

garthv wrote: »

you aare easily replaceable (no offence but theres millions of students out there

Yeah you meant Indian and Chinese right?

eth0_ · 25-01-2008 03:21PM

mick.fr wrote: »

Yeah you meant Indian and Chinese right?

DON'T quote another poster out of context like that. That is clearly not what Garth_V meant:

"you aare easily replaceable (no offence but theres millions of students out there without piercings who would jump at the chance to work in a music store)."

Any more posts like that and you will be banned.

25-01-2008 04:46PM

I ended up removing the piercings as I know my parents would give off like hell if I lost a job over them. My boss gave me a load of crap and then told me that from now on I have to be clean shaven, get a hair cut, dye it fully black as at the minute I have red highlights in it.

Le Rack · 26-01-2008 12:15AM

twat....

you say anything about the fact that it wasn't a problem during the interview or for the last year like?

26-01-2008 12:39AM

Le Rack wrote: »

twat....

you say anything about the fact that it wasn't a problem during the interview or for the last year like?

I did and he told me that if I had a problem taking them out I could fu*k off out the door. I was making a move for the door when I realised if I did, he'd never pay me the money he owes me. I emaild NERA and they said he was breaking a number of my rights and that if I was to take action against him there is no way that he could win.

Best thing happened after all this, he told me he had decided to go on holidays next Thursday and that I would have to work. I reminded him that I had booked the Thursday till Sunday off nearly three months back and he told me that it wasn't his problem, he couldn't care less what I wanted he was the boss and that was that.

I was considering a hatchet to the back of his neck but realised that if anyone saw this thread they may put 2 and 2 together.

GrumPy · 26-01-2008 12:44AM

I was hired in my current job after two interviews with no mention of my facial piercing. When I began work I was "advised" to remove it by another staff member as our boss/supervisor would challenge it. At the time I just took it out.

Now that I think about it, if I was to get said face re-pierced dunno if they could really do anything about it tbh.

Anyone reckon I should chance it?

Le Rack · 26-01-2008 01:23AM

dunno, anyone else had any extra holes in their faces without trouble?

Darko, I'd bring it to em, had holiday difficulty last week myself, which i had cleared in november! Fought it and got it, so totally go for it...as for the hatchett..I shant tell you the plans we've "made" for one of our managers!

Saruman · 26-01-2008 01:33AM

What i find odd is that he works in a music store?? I thought this was all part of the image

slacks and a shirt? In a music store???

If i walked in to a music store with people dressed like they were working in an office, i would probably walk out thinking i made a mistake and went into the wrong place.

Now i personally do not like piercings, i do not get them... But if he has piercings and its been fine for 9 months and all of a sudden its a problem... then something is odd.
OP you should ask for the request in writing, and add that you need it to send to the employment rights crowd.. see what colour his face turns. He might back down.

I bought my PS3 in Virgin (blanch) before Christmas, the guy had long hair, piercings, tattoo i think and black nail polish... sound guy who let me take COD4 (released that day) as part of the bundle and just pay the price difference of €10. Thats the kind of person i expect to see in a music store....

Le Rack · 26-01-2008 01:40AM

yeah any people I know workin in music stores have that general image, one girl i know in HMV has a tonne of facial/ear piercings, mad hair, is a general nutter, wears big rings, big ass studded boots with jeans and the hmv shirt...is it an instrument store or cd store?

26-01-2008 09:59AM

It's a CD shop, but he reckons the phone side is more important. The fact we sell on average of one phone a day and upwards of 5 or 6 hundred eurp worth of CDs never seems to be considered.

I have asked that he put all the new rules in writing but nothing as of yet.

I'm looking for a new job and hoping to find one quick, as my boss is a complete waste of space whos wage chequs have a habit of bouncing.

Shelli · 26-01-2008 01:11PM

You should take action against him, as NERA has told you there's no way he can win. People like him need to be taught a lesson!

TelePaul · 27-01-2008 10:37PM

Man hit him up for 2 grand in the small claims court.

Crumble Froo · 27-01-2008 11:20PM

i would love to see this guy brought to justice... darko, if anything happens, definitely keep us updated!

Gauge · 27-01-2008 11:41PM

I work in a music store and have to remove my facial piercings. I used to have to take out most of my ear ones too, but the manager let up once I took out the lip ring. I wear solid plugs as a courtesy because the manager doesn't like when she can see through my ears.

I need the money... c'est la vie.

Reku · 28-01-2008 07:52AM

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm looking for a new job and hoping to find one quick, as my boss is a complete waste of space whos wage chequs have a habit of bouncing.

WTF?!?!:eek:
I've worked in a sh*t place or two but at least they always made sure I got paid!
Seriously, it really does sound like a NERA investigation would shut this guy down he's that bad. Are you sure your parents would be that disappointed if you left the job before having another secured? Have you told them about all this hassle from your boss and the paycheques bouncing?
While other employers might ask you to remove any visible piercings, a small minority perhaps going further and making the highlights and either clean shaven/bearded (or moustache and clean shaven for the rest, etc.... as long as it looks groomed as opposed to slept in the gutter), you'd find that they'd make it clear from the start and usually have it in writing. If nothing else you'll find that they at least pay you.

As to him not paying you if you left, if he tries that you can bring him to court, I had a co-worker who had to do that to her former employers. I was rather horrified to hear this since the former employer in question was one of the big multinationals which had decided to chance their arm, but she won in the end. Yay, papertrails!

Stance · 28-01-2008 07:59AM

Gauge wrote: »

I work in a music store and have to remove my facial piercings. I used to have to take out most of my ear ones too, but the manager let up once I took out the lip ring. I wear solid plugs as a courtesy because the manager doesn't like when she can see through my ears.

I need the money... c'est la vie.

You said it , it's not worth the all the agro and besides as you said,... you need the money .

jenizzle · 28-01-2008 11:51AM

I wore one lip stud and nose ring, and had brown hair when I started my current job and the one before this.
In my previous job, I only ever got asked once to take out my lip stud, my manager apologised profusely as her area manager was watching her asking me to take it out, and that I could put it back in as soon as the area manager left.

In my current job, I gradually started wearing more and more facial jewellery. I basically wear what I like, and have my hair whatever colour I want. I don't wear my septum piercing in as some people find it a li'l offensive, and it doesn't bother me to leave it out.

As far as I'm aware, once they employ you looking like you do, they can't suddenly change their mind. Sounds like yer boss is a bit of a c*nt, though.

haff · 31-01-2008 04:51PM

Sad to read of all the troubles people are experiencing by simply being themselves, life is tough enough without having to deal with bigots like that music shop manager. Christ, will you just go and take that scumbag to court already. He deserves nothing short of getting the crap sued out of him. It was people like that manager that made up my mind to move away from Ireland. Bigotry seems to be a way of life at times there (I suppose you run into it everywhere).

Now I live in and work for a very cool company in Arizona, sunshine all year round but thats besides the point, my boss is this 6'2" biker who's covered in tattoos. He and I are the only 'normal' people in the office here, its a corporate world but we are free to have our ink and, in my case, piercings in full view. Might be due to the fact that nobody gets discriminated against in those ****e backwards Irish way of 'its ok for women to have piercings but not for guys' same with long hair, sexuality, colour of your skin etc etc.

Take that guy to court, teach him a lesson he wont forget, spread the news. Might take a while to sort through but oh so worth it in the end
. I know because I took a previous employer to the small claims court in Dub a few years back (I stood up to a manager who fired me, got bouncers to physically pick me up and throw me backwards out the front door where I bounced out into oncoming traffic - ow me arse - she then refused to pay me, return calls etc, I had to write a letter to head office to get access to my locker to get my stuff back) the spineless fecks settled out of court by calling my lawyer 3 minutes before the start of the hearing, they didn't even bother to attend as they knew they would have lost regardless of their presence. Would have appreciated them calling the night before but whatever. Learn from that, you have to push till the very end. Seeing as your music shop manager couldn't tell you face to face, he must have itty bitty tiny balls...lol

XJR · 31-01-2008 04:58PM

The fact that they waited a year to inform you of this is probably quite relevant irrespective of their policy.

Check out your rights as an employee on www.employmentrights.ie

Given the type of place it is you might be aswell off telling them to fV<K off and just leave. I know I'd feel a good deal better after that !

haff · 31-01-2008 05:02PM

Not forgetting that sweet satisfaction of screwing him out of some cold hard cash along the way. You could use some of your well deserved gains to buy some flash piercings and swan about in front of the place afterwards

DonnaDarko · 04-02-2008 01:33PM

hope you get this sorted, it really sucks. nowhere will hire me because my piercings and i cannot take them out yet as they havent fully healed. grr.

04-02-2008 01:52PM

XJR wrote: »

The fact that they waited a year to inform you of this is probably quite relevant irrespective of their policy.

Given the type of place it is you might be aswell off telling them to fV<K off and just leave. I know I'd feel a good deal better after that ![/QUOTE]

I was told that he has'nt got a foot to stand on, the fact that he waited so long means he cannot enforce any rules.

haff wrote: »

Not forgetting that sweet satisfaction of screwing him out of some cold hard cash along the way. You could use some of your well deserved gains to buy some flash piercings and swan about in front of the place afterwards

Well thats the plan. I know that there is a better than good chance I'm going back to college in September and once I get confirmation of it I'm teling him where he can stick his job, after I get some holiday pay and all due wages of course.

Mr.S wrote: »

meet him half way, get thoes retainers that are hard to see, if its possible for your piercing, it sucks, but at least youll get to keep them.

I'm getting retainers but they're hard to come by in Ballina, in fact it's almost impossible to get a labrett in any shop here.

DonnaDarko wrote: »

hope you get this sorted, it really sucks. nowhere will hire me because my piercings and i cannot take them out yet as they havent fully healed. grr.

I know the feeling. I had one interviewer take one look at me nad say, "sorry youre not right for the job". Hasve to admit that I was quite taken aback by it.

DonnaDarko · 04-02-2008 02:29PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I know the feeling. I had one interviewer take one look at me nad say, "sorry youre not right for the job". Hasve to admit that I was quite taken aback by it.

yeah people can be pretty rude.

my friend was working a night shift full time in dunnes (he had a lip piercing and long hair) and they made him shave all his hair and take out his piercing if he wanted the job,he was desperate for money and they were paying like 12eur an hour so he did it,but i thought it was ridiculous considering he was working at night when the store was closed and there wouldnt even be any customers.he ended up quitting after a few weeks,the manager told him to change the footwear he had on(new rocks,the flat ones though) and that pissed him off too much

no-I-in-3some · 05-02-2008 10:30PM

Ha, I find this all really amusing.

People working in music shops, with the "typical" music shop employee image (stereotype much?) being told they've to look "normal"...

I'm a childcare worker, have facial piercings, tattoos, used to have mad hair, and nothing has ever/will ever be said about my image...

My cheques are a cause for concern though :-/

I agree with everyone up there ^^ though... Look after your rights... Then they can't touch you.

Peace

no-I-in-3some · 05-02-2008 10:33PM

DonnaDarko wrote: »

the manager told him to change the footwear he had on(new rocks,the flat ones though) and that pissed him off too much

Ha, I'd be the same... love my new rocks too much... Although shaving his hair off is way too extreme for Dunnes...

Crumble Froo · 05-02-2008 10:37PM

started new job yesterday and the lip ring is staying! w00t!

Star Lord · 06-02-2008 01:33PM

Awesomeness!

\o/

Employer demanding I remove piercings

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