Waitress goes bald for charity, gets fired
June 17, 2008 by Fred HosierPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Oh no they didn't, That's how they do it in ______
Imagine: Legitimate charity work by an employee results in firing.
Stacey Feamall of Owen Sound, Ontario, raised $2,700 for cancer research by having her long, red hair shaved to a military buzz cut.
That’s a lot of money for one person to raise for medical research. But her bosses at Nathaniel’s Restaurant where she worked part-time as a waitress weren’t impressed.
They told her to take the summer off without pay until her hair grew back, according to the Toronto Star.
Feamall’s other part-time employer was much more impressed by her fundraising success. The Annan Way Garden Nursery said her job there was secure.
Nursery owner Pat Brooking told the Star, “We’re 100% behind her — and anyway, she looks kind of cute.”
Tags: cancer research, charity, fired
June 20th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I don’t know about Canada, but in the US, I would expect her to have a sex discrimination case. Unless male employees are also forbidden to have am military style buzz cut?
Also, even if their objection to her hair style is upheld, surely a wig while it was growing out is more appropriate than denying her work. This reeks of abrbitary behavior on the employers behalf.
June 20th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Hair has nothing to do with her ability to perform her job, therefore she was wrongfully fired. I have been employed in the HR field for 10 years, however I would prefer to be a judge sitting in front of this type of employer in the court of law!
June 20th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Her hair has nothing to do with her ability to perform her job but her employer (at least in the US) can still term her employment. Your hair is not in a protected class. Since it is not in a protected class she would not be considered a wrongful termination. I can walk in tomorrow and term all of the employees that are wearing blue pants and it would be a legal termination since the color of your pants are not protected by law.
However, the employer is crazy to term her. They could have used it a promotional tool and even helped her to raise more money.
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
This would definitely be a lawsuit in the U.S. Since she is a woman she is in a protected class and therefore can sue for discrimination.
June 23rd, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Legally, in the US she can sue for good cause, or for bad cause, or for no cause, or even JUST BECAUSE! Doesn’t mean she’ll win, though. But in this case, she would, in the USA. She would look pretty in a wig, though, I bet.