Woman Fired For Not Wearing Makeup To Work

[Robert]

It looks as though the anti-discrimination laws are discriminatory.

[Red Zeppelin]

I have worked in London department stores such as Liberty and apart from the girls who sell cosmetics if you are neat and tidy and follow the dress code, looking a high class prostitute is not a requirement of the job.

Didn't bother to read much more of this thread after this point. That's one hell of a bitchy comment.

When I look at the ladies in the cosmetic departments of stores I certainly do not think they look like "high class prostitutes". I simply think they look pretty, wonderfully feminine and that they clearly take care of their appearance.

But hey I'm just a bloke so what do I know.

[Sister Hyde]

Yeah I read half the thread (got 2 weeks to catch up) anyway I am in the case where it states in my contract that I must wear make up every day at work, so yes i guess this woman was aware of the rule but it's not very normal that they started to bug her about it 4 years later, it's not fair, and in some job let's tell the truth, a lot of employers try to take advantage of these rules to try to make us look like hookers!! eventhough it deprives me of 20 minutes extra sleep in the morning and eventhough I hate it, I do make the effort of wearing a bit of mascara every day. right before holidays my boss walks by (surprise visit) and tells me "Oh Camille, a nice red lipstick and a nice thick black line above the eyes, a bit of blush and that would be perfect" I was already annoyed enough and sure I like a bit of lipstick every now and then, it sure is nice for going out for wild parties every now and then, but these are not professional circumstances, now at work, I'm supposed to be a "stewardess", and just like this woman I assume it means you have to be pretty but it has to stay very discreet and natural (in my case it even says "discreet make up obligatory"), so I didn't bother to give her a piece of my mind about it I told her "I signed for "stewardess"....not "bunny"" (and i'll never understand why she keeps trying cause it must be the 10th time she comes and bug me and it mist be the 10th time I answer the exact same thing). If you sign, then comply to the rules, but it's not a reason for the employers to try to push it (and damn here we know they wanna try to push it cause they know all these old businessmen looooove lurking and spending more time when they can rince their eyes)

[prowling cat]

Hello everyone,
Back here after more than a year, will take things quietly in a nice social thread, and just say I'm happy that my job allows for frumpiness (not mandatory, of course, I do work in Italy) but I do realise that in some contexts make up for women could be considered as essential as tie and jacket are for men. High heels are another matter. They can be painful and lead to diminished productivity.
But actually expecting someone to put a huge amount of make up on might be excessive.
Then again, I know women who wouldn't dream of exiting their house without what to me would seem theatrical greasepaint (no judgement, I'm trying to convey the actual physical texture of the stuff as I would feel it on the skin, not implying they look bad, they don't).
So all it boils down to is how much is considered too much or too little. I still find it very strange that this employee was actually requested to start making up after so many years, perhaps other workers grumbled against what seemed like a privilege?
I don't often wear make up to work, but I do have my eyebrows tidied (plucked) and I do have facials. Does this make me a hypocrite?

Pointless post, perhaps, but I'm getting back in practice.
Cheers