Part 0800.0005

[patsylabrador]

No, not a shop job, not even in an office. It's a job where wearing make-up has absolutely no relevance which is probably why we were so annoyed.

[craftyhunnypie]

I worked as a Saturday girl for Boots years ago. They never really said anything, but the people they took on always looked after their skin, hair & nails & were tidy looking & smart in presentation. They liked natural looking makeup & we were only allowed to wear natural coloured tights, which were yukky pale coloured.

Although I live on a smallholding & do outdoorsy things, I still do my hair & put on my makeup every day. It makes me feel nice, have confidence & pride in myself. I also do my nails. They might get chipped doing the chooks, but hey!

 

I don't think you should be told to wear makeup though! Obviously if you had severe acne, then it's not nice to look at, but if people are lovely without makeup - then they shouldn't be forced to wear any.

 

To me makeup is a girly thing & I am very girly, so I like messing & experimenting with makeup.

 

Emma.x

[Lavenders_Blue]

I wear the minimum of make up and if I'm in a hurry or running late (which I usually am ) then I often don't bother. I usually smear on a touch of concealer under the eyes, slick on some mascara, and that's it. If it's a special occasion I'll put some eyeliner on too! I never really bother with anything else though, to be honest I don't have the patience to put on a load of make up every day.

I'd be pretty annoyed if I was 'advised' to wear it for work. Being clean and well presented is good enough in my opinion.

[Forestchook]

I don't own any and to be honest and wouldn't really know what to do with it

 

Same here! If I was told I had to wear it for work my employers would a) be paying for the make-up, b) be paying me for any time spent putting it on and taking it off again at the end of the day, and c) paying for some training for what to do with it. I would also feel the need to "develope" highly sensitive skin that could only tolerate the most ridiculously expensive stuff I could find.

 

Patsylabrador, who actually gave the advice? Was it a boss / line manager? Or just some "helpful" colleague or co-worker?

 

N

[Mum]

No, not a shop job, not even in an office. It's a job where wearing make-up has absolutely no relevance which is probably why we were so annoyed.

 

Oh in that case, the devil would get the better of me and I'd turn up with a full face halloween make-up She was advised to wear make-up, no one said what kind

[chestnutmare]

As far as I'm concerned if I am dressed smartly, and do a professional job what does it matter if I have a bit of lippy or mascara or not.

Exactly. And this is coming from me, I wear make up every day and still think it's a damn cheek!

[Alis girls]

If you ever do find a Hollister for those of you who dont know it - take a flashlight and peg for the nose

Now I must be a tartlet as I wear foundation, blusher, eyeliner and eye shadow and lippy - and I dont look like I am wearing much make up at all - must be the way i put it on. But without it I feel naked - how sad am I?

[majorbloodnock]

Personally, I would suggest your daughter takes a look at the company's dress and personal presentation policy - I'm talking about a formal document outlining what is and is not deemed acceptable and appropriate. If they haven't one, they haven't a leg to stand on. If they have one and it is non discriminatory in the context of today's accepted social norms, that's what your daughter agreed to by taking the job. If there is a policy in place and the "advice" deviates from it, your daughter has official ammunition to tell her management they're wrong.

 

Oh, and she might want to prepare herself by swotting up on the company's harrassment and bullying policy too; either in relation to the pressure applied to get her to wear makeup or (if she tells them they're wrong) her management's subsequent actions.

 

Don't get in a huff; use their words against them. It's far more satisfying and far less stressful

[Leicester_H]

As far as I'm concerned if I am dressed smartly, and do a professional job what does it matter if I have a bit of lippy or mascara or not.

 

I agree. If the men weren't advised similarly, isn't that discrimination in the work place ?

 

H

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm another one who hardly ever wears makeup. I'll put a little on if I'm going somewhere special but just can't be bothered otherwise.

 

I reckon I must save a fortune as I don't wear perfume either. I must remind OH what good value I am .

[yvonne]

Like most people, I think make-up is a very personal thing.

 

I generally feel (and am treated) more professional at work when I wear a bit of neutral but polished make-up, same as smart clothes I suppose. I rarely wear it at home and about 50/50 when going out.

 

It seems most unfair these days to expect different standards from men and women (but "well groomed" is certainly not unreasonable if representing an employer to others).

 

Generally, I think you can get a pretty good idea of how other employees present themselves when you take a job and decide whether this is a "look" which you want to fit in with, however, if conditions such as make-up/dress code are altered, then assuming the rest of the role is still something you enjoy, I would agree with having a good look at your terms of employment before feeling obliged to change the way you appear. Hope this makes sense.

[patsylabrador]

I'm glad I posted about this, I've enjoyed your replies and learnt some stuff which could be useful. I think it was some kind of line manager with some authority but not really that high up. DD has decided to treat it as a grumpy person having a bad day. DD spends a lot of her working day outside so is more concerned with keeping warm at the moment than wearing make-up so she'll ignore it.

She's not so annoyed by it now and is in the garden juggling with fire balls which looks quite spectacular.

[Guest]

I take it they employ men?

And don't ask them to wear make-up?

Thought so!

This is discrimination and should be treated as such!

Employers are entitled to ask you to follow a dress code - but cannot enforce wether you choose to wear make up or not! They would however be entitled to ask you to tone it down if you wore too much.

[majuka]

I think there is a vast difference between expecting your employees to be well groomed and dictating that they should wear make up.

 

I accept that if you work in hairdressing salon you would be expected to have stylish hair, if you work in a nail salon you would look a little bit out of place with bitten nails and the same would apply if you worked at a beauticians, and didn't wear make up.

 

I used to work for an exhibition company where image was very important. I wore some make up - out of choice - some of my colleagues didn't, we all wore smart suits and were clean and well dressed and were all equally capable of doing our jobs. I used to supervise the Saturday juniors and when we had a show coming up I would ask them to wear something smart, clean and ironed rather than the clothes they usually wore to work on a Saturday in the warehouse. I would never have thought to tell the girls to wear make up and my boss never asked me to tell them.

 

I wonder if your daughter's employers are the sort of company that only employee people they deem to be attractive or don't employ people they consider to be overweight?

 

If your daughter and her friend don't wish to wear make up at work I think they should just ignore this 'advice'. If the issue is pushed I would want confirmation that they would also be expecting the men to wear make up. After all - it is catching on more with some of the male celebs......