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Of all the things that a boss can ask of their employees—to do your work well and on time, to stick to the company rules, and to always be professional—one of the oddest moments is when they ask you to wear makeup at work. You know, to “look more professional,” even if you’re doing an amazing job as it is. These situations are awkward at best and can impact the future of your career at worst.
Bored Panda has collected a list of stories of employees sharing how their bosses and managers tried to force them to wear makeup while on the job. Have a read through them below and be sure to let us know what you thought of them, dear Pandas. Got any similar stories to share with everyone? You can go into detail about them in the comments.
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#1
I like wearing makeup and playing around with color at home and for some occasions. I do not wear makeup at work, because wearing it all day makes my skin break out. A manager at my first job told me I would look prettier with makeup and it was required in the employee handbook so I told him when my male colleagues hit my sales numbers and he showed me that section of the handbook I would do so. Spoiler: it wasn’t in there and I continued to have the highest sales in my district while *gasp* barefaced.
Riddhi⭐ 4 years ago
I have a serious question: What makes employers think that wearing makeup would somehow increase a woman's capability?🤬
Martha Meyer 4 years ago
It's supposed to increase the (male) customer's desire to buy stuff from her, I guess. Which is probably nonsense.
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Lady Snowfall 4 years ago
Sounds like this PIG of a boss my ex had. He owned a car sales company, and was looking for a receptionist/front desk person. He told my ex he wasn't going to hire the woman he just interviewed--even though she was qualified and had great references--because he thought she was ugly and he wants a pretty girl to look at all day. 🤮
Cheri Aline Sydney 4 years ago
I regret to tell you that I am old enough to remember when such requirements were in the handbook.. .. You had to submit a photo with your application! You also had to state your marital status!
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JK 4 years ago
I worked in a very small company in the US that dealt with Japanese clientele. I had lived and worked in Japan and never once received a comment about not wearing makeup. My boss, (the owner) was taking me on a business trip to Japan and he harassed me into bringing makeup on the trip because "All Japanese businesses require it". I brought it but would somehow wake up too late to put it on. Jerk. Nobody else cared.
Stannous Flouride 4 years ago
I wonder whether makeup would have made the manager look like any less of an a$$face.
KC Lancaster 4 years ago
Or more, if he had Rick Baker helped him out;p RB-611907937ed25.jpg 
Sandra Nicht 3 years ago
I lost an aerobics job years ago when the female owners of the studio told me to wear makeup and I asked if the lone male instructor had to wear it…
Sandra Nicht 3 years ago
I lost an aerobics job years ago because the women owners of the studio said to wear makeup and I asked if the one male instructor had to wear it…
RELATED:
#2
I told my employer this at a retail job I worked at in college!!! I have extremely sensitive skin too; makeup makes me break out in an aggressively itchy rash. My boss/the owner told me I had to wear makeup so I found some brands online I thought my skin would theoretically be able to handle and said, “Ok, if you buy this stuff for me, I’ll gladly wear it!” I think the total for mascara, lipstick, eyeshadow, and blush came out to something like $300. She didn’t bring it up again.
Damo Lee Park 4 years ago
Serious question for the ladies (and men who wear make-up for work), apart from acting and modelling, what jobs NEED you to wear make-up? I mean, is there actually a job you CANNOT do until you're wearing a full face of war paint?
The beauty industry is absolutely massive. It grew from 483 billion dollars in 2020 to a whopping 511 billion dollars in 2021. And the growth isn’t likely to stop any time soon. The industry is set to exceed 716 billion dollars in worth by 2025 and 784.6 billion dollars in 2027.
Meanwhile, the worth of the natural cosmetics industry is set to increase to 54.4 billion dollars by 2027, as more and more consumers opt for natural and organic products. Though, to be fair, whether or not the products themselves are actually 'natural' or 'organic' is up for debate. Some companies use these labels as a marketing trick to make their products more sought after. Meanwhile, others do their best to provide exactly what's on the label based on existing regulations. It's up to the individual customer to determine whether they're actually buying what they think they are.
#3
Lol. One of my first jobs required me to wear makeup. But the thing is, they can't really prove you aren't wearing it. So the conversation went something like this...
"Lil-Maece, you have to wear makeup for this job."
"I am wearing makeup."
"Oh, umm, right, yes of course, carry on."
Victoria Pitt 4 years ago
That's funny. I actually do wear makeup everyday (by choice) but I do it in a way that looks very natural. Aside from the eyeliner I think no one would be able to tell I am wearing any. It's the difference of patchy red skin or soft powdery skin, and the lightest coat of mascara. My thing with makeup is to enhance what I've got, not look "made up".
Cheri Aline Sydney 4 years ago
The make up now is lovely in that it can look natural...this has not always been the case. A lot of the lipstick at that time was really obnoxious.... Even thinking back to those days makes me shake my head in disbelief....
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Randy Klefbeck 4 years ago
Unless someone is selling makeup, there is absolutely no reason for someone to have to wear it.
Janet Graham 3 years ago
Why? It's a regular job, probably dealing with people. It's not like you are pole dancing, selling makeup, working in upscale retail?
#4
I once lost a job because I don't wear makeup. It was a job at a garden centre. Basically they were super sexist and only hired women to work cash. They wanted us to look hot and be flirty. Which is ridiculous. I refuse to dress up to haul around bags of dirt. I worked there for a few weeks but then slowly my hours were given to other girls/women (I was 18 at the time). And so I had to find other work. F**king bulls**t society.
Martha Meyer 4 years ago
No one wants to buy bags of dirt unless the cashier looks like a hooker! Right?!
Stannous Flouride 4 years ago
As long as they make the men wear makeup* too, it should be fine. (*nothing like Ru Paul, just some eyeliner, lipgloss, and a bit of rouge on the cheeks, of course)
Janet Graham 3 years ago
Don't blame society for messed-up managers. I would not have lasted a day.
Lisa Chambers 4 years ago
So made up women in full hair and make up sell garden supplies better?
Earlier, I had a chat about beauty trends with historian Dr. Jane Nicholas from St. Jerome’s University at the University of Waterloo. She told Bored Panda that the beauty industry grows and changes all the time.
For instance, the desire to look more natural is a popular trend that comes and goes. In the future, it’ll be replaced by something else and, eventually, things will come full circle and natural beauty will be the trendy thing again.
#5
Had one higher-up mention in a meeting that she expected to see all female employees looking more “done up” meaning makeup, nails, jewelry. I had worn makeup to work every day for 10 years. The next day I didn’t, and neither did about 80% of the women I worked with. Some other bosses talked her out if it but I’ve worn makeup to work a handful of times in the 5 years since then.
Night Owl 4 years ago
That would be evil and a nice revenge. I like the way you think. Malicious compliance
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Jane Alexander 4 years ago
There were times when only 'ladies' wore make up, then there were times when only those who were 'not ladies' wore make up... When mom first put the red on her mouth she was told "Only Hottentots do that"
Janet Graham 3 years ago
I don't think they can require wearing make-up of just the women without violating some law.
#6
Oo yes- I have been specifically asked to wear makeup in front of my male and female coworkers when I was wearing very little, they suggested eyeshadow and blush etc... this was at a bowling alley no one gave a [damn] if I had makeup on! And one of my male coworkers did stand up for me and say that’s bulls**t- she’s beautiful as is! He got fired really fast after that, and then I did too lol.
ArchiBookworm 4 years ago
Some states in America have laws that allow an employer to fire you without cause.
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Dorothy Cloud 3 years ago
They can fire you for whatever they want. They can make something up & they will.
Randy Klefbeck 4 years ago
Illegal for them to fire people for that. I imagine that bowling alley is on the ropes now due to policy, covid, and probably because it occupies the next to last kind of activities like mini-golf, and skating rinks.
Kai Scadden 4 years ago
Of course they are the type of people that tell you to stand up for yourself
Suzanne Haigh 4 years ago
I do not understand, men do not or very rarely wear makeup at work so why do women have to?
Purple Panda Rae'n 4 years ago
Can you smell that? It's called "LAWSUIT!" Discrimination, wrongful termination, and could even be considered sexist, to name a few. Oh, but you gotta luv that MAN for his bravery. (Standing up for you.)
Joe Reaves 4 years ago
No it's called at will employment. You don't need a reason to fire someone in most US states.
Load More Replies..."The move toward ‘naturalness’ comes and goes and you can trace it throughout the last century or so," Dr. Nicholas said.
"Perhaps though we shouldn’t confuse looking natural with actual naturalness. Skincare, for example, focuses on perfect skin that is poreless, hairless, and filtered to give a youthful, creamy glow, but still looks like real skin. The thing is real skin has blemishes, pores, and imperfections. The new natural is an image of natural that few, if any of us, can actually live up to," the historian explained to Bored Panda.
#7
Worked as a teller once upon a time. Coworker had very difficult skin and struggled with keeping her face clear, no matter what she used. When she was in a big breakout, she really just had to not use makeup so it would clear up and heal. Boss told her that she had to wear makeup then. I mean she had to put layers and layers to cover it up, and it would just make it worse. I think she had to end up taking it to HR but it was humiliating for her to have the struggle, much less be called out on it like that.
Heather Allison 4 years ago
At my last banking job, my manager tried to write me up for not wearing makeup. I took it to HR and they took the manager's side even though there wasn't anything stated in the employee handbook that required me to wear makeup. I ended up quitting over it among other reasons. The real kicker was the manager who tried to get me in trouble didn't even wear makeup herself. It was a very toxic environment and I'm glad I didn't stick around much longer.
Pamela Blue 4 years ago
This just infuriates me. I'm 70, and I've worked since I was 17, and I have NEVER had a job where make-up was required (I'm a minimalist with make-up anyway), nor have I ever had a job where ANYONE was castigated for lack of make-up. I'm appalled even at the suggestion!
Kaj Boelsen 3 years ago
She should have claimed the cost for agreeable make up and any medication to treat the rashes- it’s clearly a work related expense.
A dragon within 3 years ago
That's disgusting. I wish people would tell us which companies these are so we could boycott them.
Janet Graham 3 years ago
The banks in small towns do not require that BS. The employees wear nice-looking business attire. The women go from natural to really made-up, but that is kind of along an age scale, the older women will dress one way and the younger another, that's life and not management rules..
Lyn Peverill 3 years ago
Friend of mine was a teller at one point. One day she was held up, and the only thing the manager said to her about it, was go fix your makeup. Your a mess.
#8
I used to be a cashier at a cafe where a manager once said to me that I should start wearing makeup to work. I told him I had all the supplies in my purse, and that I would be happy to apply a full face of makeup in the break room right that moment if he was willing to pay me while I did it. He declined my offer and never made another comment about my appearance.
Purple Panda Rae'n 4 years ago
Whoa! I literally JUST made a post regarding this matter! -Lol! "I love it when great minds think alike!"
Kim Kermes 4 years ago
That was my first thought: 30 min pay for application, 30 min pay for proper removal.
Damo Lee Park 4 years ago
if your boss says makeup is NEEDED for work (still don't know how it could be), they should pay you an extra 2 hours wages a day for application and removal.
Rainbow Langdale-smith 4 years ago
Good point. Make up issued by work like a uniform and on works time,.
"Being on-screen helps with the ability to control lighting and use filters. A silly photo or one that looks unposed and spontaneous adds a sense of charming realness and briefly interrupts the highly curated images to help make them relatable," she said that there are ways to make the photos that we upload to social media seem more natural and, possibly, more relatable for our friends, fans, and followers.
#9
I work as a hostess and usually put on a decent amount of makeup due to my own insecurities. One shift I knew wasn't going to be busy since it was a wednesday lunch shift, I decided hell i'm too tired to care and only put on concealer and mascara. I showed up to work with people asking me if I was okay, I looked ill. When I said know I just put on less makeup, my manager SENT ME HOME to DO MY MAKEUP APROPRIATELY. i was so mad yall
I showed up with the darkest, strongest makeup out of spite.
They liked it...
Liz Saito 4 years ago
Umm, what does "hostess" mean exactly? I'm getting a strong sense the usage here isn't quite the same as the Queen's English.
Evil Little Thing 4 years ago
They answer the phone, take reservations, greet people who arrive and seat them at tables so that the waitstaff gets an even amount of work.
Load More Replies... Purple Panda Rae'n 4 years ago
I hope she was getting paid for the hours it took to get home and re-do her make-up. This brings up (another point), IF wearing makeup is that big of a deal, first, she sure as heck should be getting paid for the time it takes to go back and put it on. Then, she should get an "allowance" from the company to spend on cosmetics.
Night Owl 4 years ago (edited)
Yes. And that should be the rule everywhere that requires makeup. It's time consuming and the supplies are costly and both of those things should be taken in account and compensated if you require someone to wear makeup. The make up supplies should be considered work supplies and the time it takes to use them working hours and both should be paid by the employer
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Franc Esca 4 years ago
This girl had it the wrong way. If you send me home, find someone else to cover my shift
Lisa Chambers 4 years ago
I would have come back in wearing a full neck and face of red face paint, dressed as some kind of demon.
Elizabeth Graham 4 years ago
A hostess in a restaurant handles seating people, making sure to spread the new tables evenly to avoid overwhelming any one member of the waitstaff, hands out menus, and may run the cash register, as well.
Pamela Blue 4 years ago
That would make me go home and do a complete Goth look. Black lipstick, black eyes, totally white face, etc. If nothing else, it would probably shut the manager up for a bit.
Jane Thorne-Gutierrez 4 years ago
Thinking Stevie ( Schitts Creek) wearing Jonnie Roses' make up gift....
#10
Worked at a former place that required makeup, so the women at work submitted an expense report for Mac, one of the most expensive makeup companies out there. The employee manual was revised shortly thereafter as "must appear clean and managed: facial hair trimmed, skin kept clean and healthy."
SusanG 4 years ago (edited)
A quibble, but MAC is certainly not one of the most expensive makeup companies out there. In the grand scheme of beauty, I'd say it's mid-range, cost-wise.
Victoria Pitt 4 years ago (edited)
Well, that is a quibble cause I'm a professional career woman and I make decent salary for my position. I could never afford to buy all MAC cosmetics. I have a few items from beauty stores and a some of my staples are from drug stores. My point is, I think for the average person MAC is on the higher end, even if there are even more expensive brands out there.
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Francesca Annoni 4 years ago
I was working for a luxury underwear brand..an Italian brand.. the dress code was a dress provided by the shop, high heels, collants, neutral makeup but a particular shade of red lipstick made by MAC.. bought by the employee..I bought the first one, then all we looked online for "dupes" ..it was too expensive and was too dry to be used all the day long and everyday.. I hated this part of this job,I never wear makeup and heels out of work and this bright red lipstick made me feel "una bagascia" (I guess BP can't censor this!"
deathrose 4 years ago
I so rarely wear makeup my friends don't recognize me when I do, that being said MAC reds are my favorite reds but you're right they are dry AF.
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K. Anderson 4 years ago
To bad for people who break out I guess- not healthy.
Load More Replies... Curry on... 4 years ago
Sidenote: I did the math on makeup costs per ounce (most containers are way less than an ounce), and it was a shocking amount of money - more than gold bars.
Cheri Aline Sydney 4 years ago
It's a discussion most of us agree with you on, Haru....
Load More Replies... Lynn Morello 4 years ago
Since I stopped using makeup, 'Totally'. My face has never broken out at all.
Linda Ellis 4 years ago
I have a problem with the "healthy". Sounds like a euphemism for " no acne". Some people have problem skin and acne does not mean they are dirty.
#11
I had a boss once who I think was telling me I should wear makeup, he kept saying I should look at the other women in the office and see what they wore when I asked what he meant by ' looking more professional'. I was the only woman on my team, and generally more dressed up than the men on it. And I can't wear makeup and do my job. If I'm wearing it that's all I think about. I hate having anything on my face, even water.
Ellie Rosser 4 years ago
If he is too embarrassed to verbalize what he wants then you KNOW it is inappropriate for him to be asking for it.
I want cake 4 years ago
Yes, and it's very satisfying to make them spell it out.
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Nat Hedley 4 years ago
Sounds like by 'look more professional' what he meant was 'look more like someone I want to think about when I go for my lunch break hand shandy'.
Purple Panda Rae'n 4 years ago
That's when you tell your boss that the men should start wearing makeup to work, too.
Stannous Flouride 4 years ago
Men who think this way should be made to wear makeup for a whole day. My only experience was wear stage makeup but I was aware of it the entire 2-3 hours a night I had to wear it.
#12
I work in an field that is predominately dudes. I’d abide by the dress code, which really just asked us to wear logo’d shirts. I had one admin ask me once to start tucking in my shirt. I told him that the day he gets this other coworker to tuck in his shirt, so would I. That dude is a 6ft.+ former football player that all around had a tough guy vibe—or at least would’ve been very vocal. Never heard about it again.
A few short years later, another manager, this one my direct boss, said that people would take me more professionally if I wore makeup to work. I’m the only woman in my occupation at that time, at that place. I don’t wear it because I just don’t want to. The few times I have during the pandemic, I’ve managed to get it in my eyes and cloud up my contacts and yeah. So, nope. I told that boss that he didn’t make that request of literally any of my other colleagues in my field (makeup is needed for a different department, based on what they specifically do, for both men and women) and that if they don’t need it to be considered professional, neither do I.
lakitha tolbert 4 years ago
I’m getting the impression that the customers really don’t care, but the supervisors and managers just want to see women look made up for their own personal reasons!
#13
My friend was the principal at a catholic elementary school, and whoever the [hell] her boss was told her the same thing. She was crushing it on her performance review, doing amazing things with the school, winning awards and [stuff], and then they tried to tell her she needed to wear makeup so she would look professional. That was their one criticism of her and her work. My friend hates makeup; she's never worn it. Plus her skin is really sensitive, so I suspect she'd have a problem doing so. She's also naturally very pretty. Like beautiful. She doesn't need it. But somehow being beautiful and really, really good at her job wasn't enough. Couldn't she make herself just a scosh hotter? Then maybe she could finally be taken seriously, I guess.
She basically told them, "Yeah, I'm not doing that."
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
I don't think people like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates or Warren Buffet are conventionally beautiful or would be considered sexy, yet they are deemed to be successful. Imagine how far they could make it with a little concealer.
Cheri Aline Sydney 4 years ago
Nadine. I think a lot of concealer, like making them invisible, sounds good!
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Janet Graham 3 years ago
Good for you. That sounds completely different from the Catholic (1-8) that I attended. At that time most of the teachers were nuns, the principal was a nun and the only guys that were occasionally around were the 2 parish priests. A few lay teachers wore make-up, and a few didn't. And, of course, the nuns didn't.
#14
I left a certain coffee company (for a multitude of reasons) but one was that my long due, hard earned promotion was “delayed” because I, too, didn’t dress “professionally.” Sorry I’m not waking up at 3 am so I can put mascara on and get covered in sticky syrup for 8 hours on basically minimum wage.
Now I’m in a much better paying office job that doesn’t really care what I do, as long as I DRESS professionally. And that’s what I do. :)
Tamara Kroonen 3 years ago
I would calculate that as working time. Just come to the office at working time, and the first one or two hours is applying make up. The last half hour is make-up-removal and skin creaming time. They can pay for all the supplies AND the time. Less time for the actual job ofcourse...
#15
I had a boss say something about it would be better if I had make up on. I was just like no it wouldn’t and laughed. It just dawned on me now 20 years later he was probably serious! Still laughing.
#16
When I was 16 in my first job (I worked in a clothes store in the UK called Next) I was screamed at by the female store manager for not wearing make up because it was unprofessional and I looked tired. Which wouldn’t do for customers obviously. This was no where in the handbook for staff and I had been off sick the day before so applying make up was the last thing in my mind. Getting though the shift was. It was awful and done on the shop floor.
The irony of it all was I worked there just over a year and I NEVER once saw her wearing make up.
A dragon within 3 years ago
Do you know what looks unprofessional? Losing your temper and screaming at an employee in a store full of staff and customers.
Pamela Blue 4 years ago
Some people don't feel good unless they're tearing someone else down. And the really cowardly ones do it to young teens who are too "green" to argue back.
Binxyminxem 4 years ago
Lol she thinks not wearing makeup is bad but screaming at an employee on the shop floor, where customers could potentially see and hear it, is fine? Pretty sure a customer would run away from that, not someone with no makeup on!
Lori Oostendorp 4 years ago
My college business management professors would give that manager an F for her unprofessional conduct.
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#17
I don't wear makeup because I can't. Almost all products make me break out in hives. I had a similar issue with an old fashioned Good ol' boy type boss (older dude who literally only hired BLONDES until he took on a younger partner who showed him that this is a good way to get sued) who told me that 'anything less than fully made up was unprofessional.. and just downright not pretty." (He also made comments later in the day about that why I didn't have a husband yet and had to go out and work.. I was 22)
I told the younger partner what he said and he just shook his head and said, "I'll talk to him." Apparently he went to the good ol' boy and said, "Look.. you can either have her looking like she's got poison ivy on her face, which I would think would be far more off putting than no makeup.. or you can ignore the fact that she's not made up to *your* standards. This isn't a hygiene issue and we've got no legal leg to stand on.. and quite a few that could get knocked out under us if you push this and she decides you've gone too far." He left me alone after that, and was a bit chagrined when the 2 other office ladies decided they didn't want to be 1000% made up every day, either.
If she gives you a hard time tell her you have sensitive skin and even the so-called 'hypoallergenic' products give you rashes and epic breakouts. If she wants to give you a hard time after THAT, thinking that you'll look like you've got poison ivy on your face.. she doesn't give a darn about your well being and I would run, not walk. If that position is available in another company, I'd go there.. but not without double checking their dress code prior to accepting an offer.
Lyn Peverill 3 years ago
I was doing a business course and the lady teaching us said you will not get a job if you do not wear makeup. I was in my 40's and had worked in officers since I was 16. (only out of work, due to last company going under). She did not like it when I said you can get jobs as long as your dressed in a decent manner. I got a job later on again and still without makeup lol
#18
My first job was when I was 18. I had just got my CNA license and started working in a medical office. My boss pulled me aside one day and said he had been getting negative comments from patients about me. I asked what had been said and he told me they thought I looked too young to be working there. He told me that I needed to put on some mascara or other makeup when I come to work.
I was young and didn’t really think I could say no, so I started to spend my meager paycheck on makeup because I was worried I would get fired.
Suzanne Haigh 4 years ago
Not too long ago a trainee doctor came to chat with me in my doctors, she looked around 16. If people look young then no amount of Polyfilla will make them look older.
Linda Ellis 4 years ago
I wear makeup to look younger. Before you freak, I'm in my 60s so I'm good with younger.
Alexandra Davis 4 years ago
Whilst this is awful, makeup doesn't have to cost the earth, and last a long time. You can get decent foundation, mascara, eyeshadow and setting powder (to keep the foundation good all day) for like £15-20 and it'll last for months.
#19
Just wanted to say I have had this happen before in a much lower profession (childcare). The director told me I looked like I was hung over and when I asked for clarification because I definitely hadn't been drinking the night before, she said I needed to wear make up from then on out to look prettier for the families... I told her I was allergic to all makeup just to make her feel awkward.
Needless to say I refused to wear makeup because I hate it as well, my job was never in jeopardy because it was literally not listed anywhere in the employee handbook that make up was required. So I would check your employee handbook and see if makeup is listed as a requirement for women and if not, your boss has no ground to stand on.
And yes, I agree, it is nuts that some people still feel they can tell women they HAVE to wear makeup. To each their own, but it shouldn't be a requirement.
Cee Mor 4 years ago
Your real clients were children and they never notice if the adults in their lives have no makeup on!
Janet Graham 3 years ago
No, its the parents that you need to sell to. The kids are easy.
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Miriam L 4 years ago
Childcare is not a "lower" profession. The dress code requirements may not be business formal, or even standard business casual (although they can still be rather strict, they just account for mobility and activity) but in most parts of the world it requires study, certification and continuous learning as professional requirements. I understand that the job has been devalued to the point that even experienced childcare workers don't always respect their own jobs, but that's not how it should be
Raven DeathShade 4 years ago
I want to go into childcare in the future, but I also want to somehow help people understand that people in childcare do an insane amount of work to raise children that aren't ours. True, I may be a wishful thinker, but if I can accomplish at least some of the things on my bucket list, I'll be happy.
Load More Replies... Suzanne Haigh 4 years ago
Why can not the women just say, when the men doing my job wear makeup then so will I?
Lori Oostendorp 4 years ago
If they insisted on me wearing makeup I'd ask for their billing information so the hospital and doctors office would know where to send the bill! I was born allergic to all soaps and makeup, even Basis which is the most hypoallergenic soap on the planet.
Kat Oertli 4 years ago
and if Makeup IS required raise HELL for not requiring it for men too, it is so completely sexist to have this be a standard now.
Tamara Kroonen 3 years ago (edited)
Even if it is listed, you can fight it. There is absolutely no scientific proof that your work will improve with make up. Even if things are listed, than still not all things have a legal foot to stand on.
Pamela Blue 4 years ago
Since when is child care considered a "lower profession?" Someone looking after MY child had better consider themselves educated, know their child care stuff, and love children. And I wouldn't give a toss about whether you wore make-up - I only care about you doing a great job!
#20
I worked in the office of a storage place, where my clientele was quite often homeless and addicted people. Yet I was expected to plaster on some makeup every day to present that corporate image. I did mascara and chap stick only and got away with that. I still resent it. I hope that they someday must grapple with the HR conundrum of do they or do they not tell a man who likes wearing makeup that he cannot.
#21
I have the same aversion to make up. Can't stand it on my face or eyes. Can't even stand perfume. I usually say I'm allergic. Just because I became tired of having to explain myself.
#22
I was told the same when i worked at TUI a travel company. I can't wear most make up because of a serious skin allergy. I couldn't believe what i was hearing. Sorry we still have to deal with all this [stuff] in 2021
Cameron Jacobs 4 years ago
Worked at a trendy (douchy) restaurant in downtown Toronto. We HAD to wear makeup to work, and we had to wear heels (3 inch minimum), you could only switch to flats if you were working a double, at the end of your first shift. We also had to wear short black dresses made of a thick spandex material. As much as I hated it, the tips were ridiculously good and I needed the money. One day, a tray of polished glasses slipped out of this server's hand and she was sweeping the mess, so I went to help her out. This patron came up to us and expressed how uncomfortable she felt watching us sweep the floors in our heels and short dresses, turns out she worked for the labour board. She asked how we felt about it, we expressed how much we hated it but, rules were rules (this was a decade ago). I don't know if she had anything to do with it, but I'd say about 6 months after, the policy changed. Pants were allowed. Heels were optional. Still busy as hell, but way more comfortable.
#23
I’ve had this happen to me before. I put on eyeliner and cherry chapstick and it stopped. Minimum effort (but still annoying) and the problem went away. It sucks that she said something, but if you like the job and the money, it’s easier than fighting the system.
Suzanne Haigh 4 years ago
Chapstick - number of times I have had my lipstick complimented when it was only Chapstick, many did not believe me when told.
What do you think ?
Emma Goudie 4 years ago
I was the only female in the team of eight and was told that because I was interacting with customers, that I should wear a full face of makeup. None of my male co workers were asked to wear makeup despite us all doing the same job. I came into work the next day with a full clown makeup. Management were not amused. My co workers fell about laughing. I was not asked to wear full makeup again.
Brandy Grote 4 years ago
Men for work: appropriate clothing, can be reworn unless smelly. Shave daily unless facial hair is allowed. Cost of upkeep: $100 month if dry cleaning is needed. For women, same cost for clothes and shaving. Pantyhose, makeup, nail and hair salon: $500 per month. But women earn less than men. It's a trap!
Yara Balabanova 4 years ago
And it's not just the money, think of all the time women have to spend on their appearance outside of their work that their not being paid for
Load More Replies...
Pixie 4 years ago
Someone requesting me to wear makeup? I'm very sorry, but even if I do my very best, they have a good chance to get a panda
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
I love medicine. We're told NOT to wear it, for preference:-) You can if you don't work with patients, but if you touch people? No on the make-up. No fancy fingernails. You just can't afford that stuff in the way, flaking off, or whatever. And jewelry? Yikes. No dangling things! No spiking-scratching things! .... much less pressure than office environments, is my guess.
Moosy Girl 4 years ago
I had absolutely no idea that an employer can legally require employees to wear make-up. … I just looked it up and it turns out they can’t in my country, whew.
Aliquid A 4 years ago
What someone can "legally require", and what someone tells you to do are two different things. You could challenge them, but do you really have the time and money to take this to court?
Load More Replies...
NsG 4 years ago
If you are customer-facing I can see an argument that blemishes might need to be covered (for both men and women), because human beings are fickle and shallow creatures and you are part of advertising their brand (this is usually why facial hair must be trimmed is also a requirement). Full face makeup? Not unless you're on TV. A back office where your only customers are internal? Yeah, this is a request from a boss who just wants eye candy.
Victoria Pitt 4 years ago
Totally sexist bullshit. Makes my stomach churn. I could get away with not wearing makeup at my current job, but I do so for my own sense of self esteem. I go for a natural look though. It's crazy how most the men here just look like potatoes in tee-shirts. I dress more professionally than them too, lol.
DuchessDegu 4 years ago
I've had one of those jobs. We worked in a back office doing pure admin on a different building from the shop front, never seen any clients, still the _women_ must wear full make up, and retouch lipstick after eating lunch. The men could turn up with a face smeared with dog crap if the felt like it and it'd be be perfectly fine "as we don't see public"
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago (edited)
Funny thing is, I have always worn a light layer of concealer and mineral makeup at work—-just enough to cover dark circles and blemishes, and to even out my skin tone. I learned to apply makeup back when the whole point was to make yourself look like you don’t need to wear makeup at all. So people think I don’t wear any, and are genuinely surprised to learn I do—-and that I have some on at that moment.
Honu 4 years ago
Yep. I like wearing a little natural-looking makeup. The whole thing takes me just a couple of minutes. I don't spend a lot on it since I wear the same handful of products all the time. I have super sensitive skin and have found things that don't irritate me. I do object to it being required of people, though. I wear it because I like it. It's actually less common in software engineering, which is a very casual dress code. Most women I work with don't wear make up. I've actually wondered if it counts against me a bit that I do. I also like dresses, which are not common in my workplace. Though not heels. Those can die in a fire. I spent years dressing in jeans and t-shirts to blend in at work. I finally said screw it and I dress how I like now.
Load More Replies...
Vicky Z 4 years ago
I had major fights with a previous boss that was pushing me to wear mascara! I was never without make up and lipstick (because i liked it and not because of the rule) but she insisted i should wear mascara, even though i had allergies and my eyes were itchy and red!!! I'm remembering now this paranoia and want to scream!!!
Emma Goudie 4 years ago
I was the only female in the team of eight and was told that because I was interacting with customers, that I should wear a full face of makeup. None of my male co workers were asked to wear makeup despite us all doing the same job. I came into work the next day with a full clown makeup. Management were not amused. My co workers fell about laughing. I was not asked to wear full makeup again.
Brandy Grote 4 years ago
Men for work: appropriate clothing, can be reworn unless smelly. Shave daily unless facial hair is allowed. Cost of upkeep: $100 month if dry cleaning is needed. For women, same cost for clothes and shaving. Pantyhose, makeup, nail and hair salon: $500 per month. But women earn less than men. It's a trap!
Yara Balabanova 4 years ago
And it's not just the money, think of all the time women have to spend on their appearance outside of their work that their not being paid for
Load More Replies... Pixie 4 years ago
Someone requesting me to wear makeup? I'm very sorry, but even if I do my very best, they have a good chance to get a panda
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
I love medicine. We're told NOT to wear it, for preference:-) You can if you don't work with patients, but if you touch people? No on the make-up. No fancy fingernails. You just can't afford that stuff in the way, flaking off, or whatever. And jewelry? Yikes. No dangling things! No spiking-scratching things! .... much less pressure than office environments, is my guess.
Moosy Girl 4 years ago
I had absolutely no idea that an employer can legally require employees to wear make-up. … I just looked it up and it turns out they can’t in my country, whew.
Aliquid A 4 years ago
What someone can "legally require", and what someone tells you to do are two different things. You could challenge them, but do you really have the time and money to take this to court?
Load More Replies... NsG 4 years ago
If you are customer-facing I can see an argument that blemishes might need to be covered (for both men and women), because human beings are fickle and shallow creatures and you are part of advertising their brand (this is usually why facial hair must be trimmed is also a requirement). Full face makeup? Not unless you're on TV. A back office where your only customers are internal? Yeah, this is a request from a boss who just wants eye candy.
Victoria Pitt 4 years ago
Totally sexist bullshit. Makes my stomach churn. I could get away with not wearing makeup at my current job, but I do so for my own sense of self esteem. I go for a natural look though. It's crazy how most the men here just look like potatoes in tee-shirts. I dress more professionally than them too, lol.
DuchessDegu 4 years ago
I've had one of those jobs. We worked in a back office doing pure admin on a different building from the shop front, never seen any clients, still the _women_ must wear full make up, and retouch lipstick after eating lunch. The men could turn up with a face smeared with dog crap if the felt like it and it'd be be perfectly fine "as we don't see public"
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago (edited)
Funny thing is, I have always worn a light layer of concealer and mineral makeup at work—-just enough to cover dark circles and blemishes, and to even out my skin tone. I learned to apply makeup back when the whole point was to make yourself look like you don’t need to wear makeup at all. So people think I don’t wear any, and are genuinely surprised to learn I do—-and that I have some on at that moment.
Honu 4 years ago
Yep. I like wearing a little natural-looking makeup. The whole thing takes me just a couple of minutes. I don't spend a lot on it since I wear the same handful of products all the time. I have super sensitive skin and have found things that don't irritate me. I do object to it being required of people, though. I wear it because I like it. It's actually less common in software engineering, which is a very casual dress code. Most women I work with don't wear make up. I've actually wondered if it counts against me a bit that I do. I also like dresses, which are not common in my workplace. Though not heels. Those can die in a fire. I spent years dressing in jeans and t-shirts to blend in at work. I finally said screw it and I dress how I like now.
Load More Replies... Vicky Z 4 years ago
I had major fights with a previous boss that was pushing me to wear mascara! I was never without make up and lipstick (because i liked it and not because of the rule) but she insisted i should wear mascara, even though i had allergies and my eyes were itchy and red!!! I'm remembering now this paranoia and want to scream!!!
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