Disney Employees and Beards

It may have been a bit over 20 years ago that a Pasadena schoolteacher was suspended for not shaving off his beard and mustache that he had grown over the summer vacation. He held firm that the school could mandate his dress code since he could change at the end of the day, but not his right to a beard and mustache. Up to that point, all men teachers including myself had to be clean-shaven and have close-cropped hair in the back as well. The rest is history.

The courts have held that an employer can demand certain dress during the work day but cannot demand changes which cannot be reversed at the end of the working day--such as a beard or mustache. The employees at the Queen Mary under previous management were able to perform their jobs without any clean face rule. Now under Disney management several have been terminated (Part B, Dec. 28). I believe the courts will overturn this as unfair labor practice. It is ironic that Walt Disney wore a mustache.

SOL TAYLOR

Newport Beach