Pink hair gets man suspended from work

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

What if he'd had pink hair when he was born? Would he not have been hired?

I imagine the employer would reference the laws dealing with discrimination based on a pre-existing medical condition if that were the case.

But there's a huge difference between your fashion choices & being a medical oddity.

[RougeUnderoos]

Ahhh, the Calgary Sun. Did this make it into the "paper" version? I really hope so. This is front page stuff.

"Local man gets new job, complains about old one"

That being said, they should have really done their homework and told us which moving company he works for now, in case we want to avoid having pink hair in the bedroom.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Sliver

So what, they're just supposed to make decisions that could negatively affect their business because somebody will threaten to go public? Then the terrorists have already won.

Pretty much, yup. As a business you have to know something like this will not play well in the public. They should have analyzed it more, like how many people would never order again from Sleep Country because a pink haired person delivers their furniture (I'd like to hope this number hovers around 0) versus the number of people you risk pissing off and losing by suspending someone who, while they did break the rules, did so for a cause close to many people. Wouldn't at all be surprised to see their rivals pounce on this and have their delivery folk in all pink or something like that.

[Lt.Spears]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Lots of deliverymen are already surly looking individuals. I could care less about pink hair. No different from people putting horribly-dyed blonde or red streaks in their hair.

It matters not an iota what colour his/her hair is, and if it bothers someone, then I think they need to be less sensitive.

Now if it was a guy who was naked and was looking at my face as a tasty treat, then I'd be concerned.

Then why don't you?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Lt.Spears

Then why don't you?

Then why don't you stop being a jerk?

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Pretty much, yup. As a business you have to know something like this will not play well in the public. They should have analyzed it more, like how many people would never order again from Sleep Country because a pink haired person delivers their furniture (I'd like to hope this number hovers around 0) versus the number of people you risk pissing off and losing by suspending someone who, while they did break the rules, did so for a cause close to many people. Wouldn't at all be surprised to see their rivals pounce on this and have their delivery folk in all pink or something like that.

Perhaps the company thought highly enough of their employees to think they wouldn't run to the media over what amounts to a dress code dispute?

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Lt.Spears

Then why don't you?

Just issue me a warning please, I promise not to speed type next time.

[Derek Sutton]

This is not an issue for the media, imagine if every work place suspension made the news. Nor is this a cancer issue and what does pink hair have to do with cancer? Again though I just don't see how this got into the news.

[missdpuck]

They should have had a Pink Mattress Day.

This thread is just pissing me off. The guy's father is a survivor, so it was personal for him, donation or not.

Sure, the company has the right to make its own rules, but fighting cancer is a cause we can all relate to, it's not like it's some freaky fringe protest group.

Look at all the companies that have created "pink" products! I get annoyed with it sometimes, but my dad died of lymphoma and my nephew of leukemia, so I'm grateful attention is drawn to it.

And oh yeah save the ta-tas while you're at it

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

Perhaps the company thought highly enough of their employees to think they wouldn't run to the media over what amounts to a dress code dispute?

Well no doubt they hoped he wouldn't, but any smart business does not rely on hope, especially for employees at the low end of the company who have less loyalty to the company. Gotta always expect the worst and plan accordingly. Believe me I wish we could believe in the best, but humanity is humanity.

[Cowperson]

Christine Magee’s response to the Calgary Sun:

We support our employees' dedication to charitable causes -- just as we do extensive charitable work as a company. We also have to make sure our customers are comfortable when our delivery associates enter their homes -- and that's why we require employees to maintain a professional, business-like appearance. In fact the acid test that I always use for the appearance of a Sleep Country delivery associate is whether my mom would be comfortable with this person setting up a bed in her bedroom.

In this case we had to make a judgment call whether our customers might feel uncomfortable by a stranger with pink hair in their bedroom, especially if it is not immediately evident that he was supporting a charitable cause. We realize that some will not agree with us, but we want to explain our reasoning and our attempt to strike the right balance.

I hope you can understand why Sleep Country Canada asked this employee to wear a hat. We thought it was a reasonable compromise and he wore it last year. This year instead of wearing his baseball cap he chose not to work his shift and to leave. We did not fire him.

In the end, I can only hope that we will be measured by our intention to serve our customers well and our track record of supporting charities.

Christine Magee
President, Sleep Country Canada

A good answer that will resonate with a lot of people.

When I first heard the words "delivery man" I was wondering what they were doing since he wasn't in sales.

They explained themselves well. Good PR people. Nice spin.

Cowperson

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by missdpuck

They should have had a Pink Mattress Day.

This thread is just pissing me off. The guy's father is a survivor, so it was personal for him, donation or not.

Sure, the company has the right to make its own rules, but fighting cancer is a cause we can all relate to, it's not like it's some freaky fringe protest group.

Again...what the heck does the company's dress code have to do with everyone wanting to fight cancer? And how exactly is this guy's pink hairstyle doing anything? His personal affairs are his personal affairs..not his company's. He could've done it in a way that didn't violate company policy.

People are so easy to manipulate. Just elicit a simple emotional response and all rationality goes out the window. Just like that Kony 2012 thing.

Cancer is bad + pink haired guy suspended = Sleep Country are Satan.

[missdpuck]

I never said they were Satan. I'm just saying how so many other companies do things, and what's wrong with a bit of humanity in the workplace once in awhile?

Perhaps pink hair, pink ribbons, pink shirts helps all in question feel stronger, more hopeful, and more unified somehow.

[Barnet Flame]

People may feel uncomfortable by any stranger in their bedroom. The stranger having pink hair could act as an icebreaker.

[Crazy Bacon Legs]

"Tons of people on both sides of my family have died from all types of cancer."

Not only has this poor fellow had so many relatives die from cancer that he has measure them by approximate weight instead of concrete numbers, but each one of them died from all types of cancer. That's horrible.

This poor guy really lost the genetic lottery. I am sure he dreads the day when he too comes down with every form of cancer. I am not sure having pink hair will even really help at all.

[ken0042]

For some of you who think Sleep Country should have joined in this charity event; also keep in mind the size of the company. It's not like some small company where they could make a decision like that on the fly.

I also think they were trying to meet the guy in the middle by letting him keep the hair tucked under a hat. While I likely would not have been put off by having this guy deliver and setup my bed, I could see my grandmother having an issue with him. A bed is a very personal thing.

[Barnet Flame]

What is with all the anger and cynicism in your post?

[GGG]

I am definately on sleep country's side here.

1) Just because "something is for a good cause" shouldn't automatically change any rules. You can't just show up one day and say its pantless day to fight cancer. You have to approach your employer first and if they give you permission than you can do it. The 'its a good cause' does not change anything. The hippie potatoe garden was "for a good cause" doesn't change that its tresspassing. The sense of entitlement people have in their slacktivism is mind boggling.

2) He was okay with the hat requirement last year. This year he decided that wasn't right. He didn't notify his employer in advance that he wanted to change. What did he expect to happen. He intentionaly created a conflict believing it was a "good cause"

3)The whole Cancer industry bugs. From the pink washed products where almost no money is donated yet people by extra junk they wouldn't have otherwised needed because its a good cause. The walks and races spending 70% of the money raised putting on the race than justifying it by saying it raises awareness. NEWSFLASH: People are aware of cancer. The cancer industry has made it very difficult to donate to funding cancer research and not to funding awareness.

4) Slacktivism -- Dying your hair pink, liking something on facebook, growing a mustache in November are not helping. So other people shouldn't have to accomodate you at all to help out with your slacktivisim.

I would have been much more on the guys side if he just wanted pink hair and he thought the dress code was stupid. That is a way better reason than whining about it being for a good cause.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Fine with this suspension.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

I wish every day was Pantless Day to Fight Cancer.