Jewellery Stand - Are employers allowed to ban jewelry because of sexual preference?

Are employers allowed to ban jewelry because of sexual preference?

Ok, so I went to pick up my paycheck the other day and my manager told me that the General manager of the hotel where I work had put in place a new rule. First of all, you are not allowed to wear more than 2 rings on each hand. Second, no more than one bracelet. Third, no necklaces are to be shown. Fourth, your hair can not be a color that is significantly different than your natural hair color. Five, you can not wear accessories in your hair, such as headbands. If you wear your hair in a ponytail, the ponytail holder must be black or brown. Six, you cannot have nail polish that is bright or dark. And finally, you are not allowed to wear thumb rings. Her reasoning for this was because people that wear thumb rings are typically homosexual. So, my question is this: Are employers allowed to put a rule such as this into affect with that reasoning? Isn't that considered discrimination? I myself am not gay, however i have a silver band that my parents bought me for my high school graduation that has my name engraved on it that I wear on my thumb. I am no longer allowed to wear this at work. Let me know your thoughts on this. Thanks =)

Public Comments

That sounds so stupid. I wish I could help you more. Good luck!
you work for them get over it they can change rules when ever they want with no reason most jobs only allow a simple plain wedding band for both genders no bracelets no necklaces cause they can get caught or grabbed
If you are dealing with the public, I think your employer can have standards regarding your appearance. I never heard the thumb ring stuff. I worked with a woman in her 40s, married with two kids, definitely not gay, who wore a thumb ring. They would have been better off to just ban thumb rings and not give that reason--the reason could get them in trouble. What I find when I research employee rights is that we don't have all that many. Your employer can probably legally do this, especially if you are not in a union.
The changes that you are describing sound like they are trying to have a "professional" look in the business. They don't sound like outrageous requests. The dress code actually sounds pretty standard.
I doubt the GM banned thumb rings because they are gay. Your manager sounds like she made up her own reasoning to either insult you or to just blow off the question.
Yes, they can. Sadly, in most people there still aren't employment protections for gay people. Though in this case it looks to me like your employer's dress code is directed at tackiness more than anything else. This isn't a reflection on the desirability of homosexuality, but rather a reference to a political adornment.
While the reasoning that your manager assumed the general manager used to come up with the policy could be an issue, the rule in itself is not if it applies to all employees.
Most places have their own dress code policy in place. They can restrict you right down to wearing only a wedding band and a medi-alert bracelet if they like. In my line of work, I cannot wear anything in my hair (other than one elastic) no pins, etc. Makeup is banned. Only clear nail polish and no long fingernails. The only jewelery that can be worn is a wedding band (no engagement rings, class rings, etc.) and a medi-alert tag. Does that discriminate against single people? Nope. I work in law enforcement and I also work in a prison. We can have our hair color any "natural" color (but nothing that looks like it came from Crayola). If we have tattoo's, they cannot be visible to the public. That means in the summer, when everyone else is in short sleeves, yours truly is sweating her butt off in long sleeves. It is not discrimination to implement a dress code. It is in bad taste for her to state that she feels that a thumb ring means your gay (I have never heard that one before). An employer can set whatever dress code they want to maintain a professional image or for your own safety.
Employers can have a dress code -- and rules of behavior. They are thinking about their business -- how customers will feel. I for one do not want to be served by a person with jewelry and tattoos all over them, nor do I like to see clerks who are not dressed modestly. It just does not look professional.
Sounds to be like a dress code which is completely legal. The comment about homosexuality was certainly unprofessional, however not actionable. It isn't discrimination it is a dress code which all employees must equally adhere to. If I wanted all my employees to wear gorilla suits and orange sneakers to work I could make that a mandatory dress code and as long as it is applied unilaterally it is not discrimination.
Employers can't just "think up" new rules to put on employees. You should have been issued an employee handbook with the dress code cary clearly outlined in it. Look it up. You have a couple of choices. go ahead and take the ring off or fight it and risk your employment. In these economic times. I would go with just removing the ring.
Employers may enforce a dress code, so long as it is uniformly enforced. YES... they can do this.
Employers can set up any kinds of rules regarding employment. Well, either you accept the conditions OR walk away! The choice is up to you? It doesn't sound unreasonable to me!
No, not based off preference, But they are allowed to ban it because they want to. As long as they don't say "No thumb rings because gay people wear them" there is nothing anyone can do. They did not specify why they banned them. It is their right to ban any jewelry they want to. As long as they don't discriminate while doing it. You may know the real reason, but until they say it out loud, nothing can be done.
This is a tricky one.... If the policy is in effect strictly in effect becasue your employer doesn't want "gay-looking people" working there, then yes, it is discriminatory. If the policy is simply presented as a "dress-code," then the employer is within his/her rights to define what is and is not "professional"...especially in a customer service-related industry like hotels, restaurants etc. You could lodge a complaint, but if the employer was smart enough to not put anything related to sexual preference/orientation in writing, you'll have a difficult case.
While the rules are stupid, they can dictate that as part of a uniform for the job - an employer has the right to portray its employees in whatever light they wish to do so. While the reasoning for the thumb ring is not allowed, the idea of not wearing the thumb ring is.
They are banning thumb rings for all, not just gay people, so yes it is legal.
Your best bet would be to contact the main office of the hotel where you work and try to get a copy of an updated dress code. Most hotels have a mandatory dress code that will carry from one place to the next. The second thing is to try to get ahold of your GM either via e-mail or what not and see if you can't schedule a meeting with him and your manager. So you 3 can sit and talk about this. The hair color thing is understandable, there are a lot of places that won't allow wild out there hair color because you are dealing with the public and the way you present yourself is the message you are conveying to the public when they enter your establishment.
OOOH big mistake of the employer to say that, she/he could of sited safety reasons but not sexual orientation. If is true you can contact your local employment office and ask to speak with someone who over sees such cases. But make sure the employer did state such comment and that you have other witnesses, because it can get you fired if not proven. But is 100% true you cannot be discriminated against due to your color of skin, sexual orientation, language, etc.. Employers can ask you not to speak a certain language while communicating at work relating to specific work duties, but cannot prevent you to speak the language while communicating non related work duties. So as far as the other things you mentioned they can do away with. for example they can ask you not to color your hair to a color not closely related to your own color of hair because in technical terms your hair can be Blond,white,brown,white,black,red(light brown) and no other color. We all have the same pigments in each strand of hair so even if I have black hair I can die my hair blond because it is in the pigments of my hair. Basically what they are saying is don't die your hair red, blue, orange, colors that are not in your hair pigment. Nail polish and other things as pony tail holders that might be going over board but there must be a reason to that that you have probably seen. However if you are sure the reason for them not allowing the ring in that finger is for sexual orientation report it to the labor board.
They really do not have to give you a reason for changing the rules. The only thing they have to give you is a print out of the new rules to add to your employee handbook.
Employers can set any set of rules they want too. It sounds like they are trying to make the employees blend in instead of drawing attention from the guests. I don't agree with all of this either but it is their right to set the dress code. Sorry, I know you would like to have a way to fight back-but you can't in this case. Wear the ring your parents gave you on a chain around your neck. Make it long enough that it stays hidden under your shirt. And...give your bosses the benefit of the doubt. I bet someone said or did something to set this in motion. Keep smiling :)
" Her reasoning for this was because people that wear thumb rings are typically homosexual " If this was her excuse to change the rule, you have your rights, she is in trouble and you are able to sue her and the company she represents. However, when you work for a company your appearence reflects to their image and they need you to represent them the best way, impartial, avoiding political, religion and personal bias. Since customers have their own thoughts and they are not interested to deal with picture that probably chock them, you must follow the new rules. But make sure the new rules are applying to everyone. Hope this can help you. Silkworm xox
sounds like a reasonable dress code for an up-level place of employment if you want to have pink hair, wear short shorts and have six thumb rings on go work at a indie record shop