Store Slacks Off No-Pants Policy

A J.C. Penney store is hiring back a female hairdresser fired for wearing pants to work.

Diane Carter, 38, won back her job and four days pay for the work she missed at Penney’s Quakerbridge Mall store.

Officials of the store, which also reversed its dress policy, met with Carter for an hour before reinstating her.

“It was very tense in the beginning and, I guess, justifiably so,” said Carter, an eight-year employee.

“They were afraid of what I was going to insist on and I was afraid of what they were going to insist on.”

Store manager Martin Wick said the store reversed its policy because of a public outcry.

Carter said she appreciated peoples’ efforts on her behalf.

“I thank them from the top of my head to the bottom of my pants,” she said.