I would stand my ground. If they were willing to pay for my makeup and have someone else apply it to my face than I would comply. I just cannot imagine you forcing someone to wear makeup. What if they have super sensitive skin, eyes, etc.

It stinks that she was there so long but if the company sold and had new management and employee requirements and she was made aware of them, then it is either agree or move on. That would be like a company telling employees no more open toed shoes- either don’t wear open toes any more or look for a job elsewhere if it is that big of a deal. I moved from a position where it was pretty much necessary to wear jeans every day to one within the same company where I am only “allowed” to wear jeans on Friday and the rest of the week is dress pants or skirts. I don’t like it but it’s policy. Same thing if you apply for a job that requires suits every day. If it’s just part of the job… accept or move on.

I don't understand why she wouldn't want to wear makeup anyways... tips are def better when you look pretty, sad but true. And it's only makeup, they didn't say she has to show up in a thong and pasties or something lol

It's a uniform, I'd probably cave.

Were men required to wear make-up? If not, then it is absolutely discrimination. I call bullsh*t; it's not the same as having a formal dress code whereby one cannot wear sneakers to work. It's like saying women have to wear pumps.

If you wear a pant suit or something to work everyday and you'd rather be wearing jeans, or nice heels or flats when you'd rather be wearing flip flops or tennis shoes, I don't know why you can't put on some foundation (if you need it) a little gloss and mascara. People do stuff they don't like everyday, and if you have an issue following your work policy, then don't work there anymore.

An exception would be an allergy, if you can document that allergy and make it known that you're not just whining because you don't like the new rules.

I would slap on some eyeliner and call it a day.

i wear makeup religiously anyway so this would never be an issue for me

I would do it, simply because a)its a job, and b) its not like they are suddenly asking you to wear a bikini and stripper shoes.

I'm a beauty junkie anyway but if it's just a little bit of makeup, I'm not sure it's too big a deal. Unless they're specifying what makeup you should be wearing, adding a little bit of cosmetics to your "uniform" isn't the end of the world; otherwise, you may want to find another job.

I'm a little shocked at the replies. It's straight up not right. Some days I wear make up, some days I don't. But if my boss told me I HAD to wear makeup, you better believe I'd be looking elseware for employment.

I can't believe the the posts on here either. Yes we all have to do things we don't like for our job, but it is discrimination when one gender has to and another gender does not. Unless they were forcing ALL employees to wear make-up, then that's sexist. Looking professional, and dress code enforcements are one thing because they apply to all employees, but should your boss be allowed to say your only allowed to wear skirts, no pants, because your a woman. No that's not ok and this situation is not ok.

It isn't right that she was subjected to this, no, but I'd do what I'd had to to save my job - besides anything unethical [sleeping with the boss!] or illegal [help cover money laundering!]. If I had another job that was better paying without that rule already lined up, I might fight it, but I don't have the time, money, or energy to waste on it otherwise.

I don't wear much makeup, I barely know how to put it on! They'd have to fire me for "not being able to fulfill job requirements".

This is a sticky situation because she was hired before the transition. However there is a statute that employers can utilize that can make requirements like "wear makeup" "wear a certain style of clothing" "be a certain figure" if they can prove it is necessary to the image and operation of their establishment.

I actually left a job for being told this so I understand the problem too well!!

I see both sides.

I think that a company can request a certain amount of polish. Especially if it is related to costumer service. But I think that employees should have to agree to it before they are hired.

Honestly, make up can be part of the dress code. However, I think I think that being polished and well groomed should have been the option for the restaurant and not make up.

There are all sorts of rules in life. If we don't like them we have choices. We had a receptionist a few years back that after 6 months of employment she started coming to work in her pajama bottoms, slippers and her hair was a mess (shockingly her eyes and eyebrows were always immaculately done). I'm sorry but we have a business to run and her lack of following the rules of our dress code was a real problem. Are pajamas the end of the world? No, but we want to represent a bit more of a professional appearance than that. We also have makeup standards in our dress code policy. We don't require it but you can't come to work wearing clown or club makeup. It's the rules.

It seems weird that it's legal, unless the company provides the makeup/makeup stipend for each employee they require to wear it. I would assume if it's in the handbook that makeup is part of the "uniform" and a company in this state ( CA) is required to provide the uniforms or a stipend for a uniform.

I was a part of a class action suit because of a company "requiring" you to wear their brand to work even though the hand book say " or like clothing" and the state of CA deemed that illegal and gave past/present employees money back for clothes purchased.

I have two words for you ....Gloria Allred!

I'm surprised by how many people would wear makeup to keep their jobs. I wouldn't; like bastylefilegirl, I would have had Gloria Allred on speed dial.

So the female employees HAD to wear makeup, but it's fine that the men don't have to? F that. I understand needing to look professionally, but jeez.

I wouldn't take a job with a uniform unless I was totally desperate and I would consider this a uniform.

Did anyone click through and see her photo? She's beautiful -- she doesn't need make-up!

We read in fashion magazines about how to get that "natural look" and yet, she went natural and got fired.

It's a hard question to answer, being that I love makeup and willingly wear it without being paid lol, but if I know people who really don't like to wear makeup, and they look fine without it, and no one should be forced to wear something they don't want to wear that isn't necessary to their job. So, if I were that waitress, I would have stood my ground. I think she did the right thing.

Maybe if they paid for my makeup.

I love makeup, so this wouldn't be a problem for me, but I don't agree with it. In this economy though, some women might not have a choice but to comply. Who can really afford to lose their job??

Legal doesn't necessarily mean just. fallible laws exist, made by fallible people and this is one of them. They should take the case to the Supreme Court. As long as you bathe, look clean, don't smell, and do your job, why wear makeup? what's next? forcing those with grays to get their hair dyed?

Nope. What if they told her she had to go to a dentist and get her teeth whitened and straightened because that is more upscale? Make up does not make you look professional. I look professional everyday with lip balm and moisturizer. I say she takes it to the supreme court.

All that being said because of the economy I would have put on some foundation and lipstick and keep it moving until I found another job. This economy is nothing to play with.

unless then men are required to wear make up then that place needs to f*ck off because thats discrimination..its not even a thing were you have to wear a bra to work because well guys arent going to but make up should not be mandatory but its also their business so their rules..

lol thinking about all the guys that may end up wearing makeup at this job.

Waiter: Hi, my name is Brian, I'll be your waiter today

Customer: Brian, that purple eyeshadow is fab! Is it MAC?

Waiter: No, Nars, and thank you. The chick at the register said it looked too slutty for daytime but I was all "Whatever". Anywho, our specials today are the lamb stew and steak.

No makeup is a hell of a lot better than the waitresses I know who wear wayyy too much (including my former manager, who wore talon-like fake nails, blech).

I like makeup, but I see it as different than clothing. As long as they look clean, polished, and smell nice (another pet peeve: too much perfume!!) I don't see the problem. I wouldn't budge. I'm trying to compare it to facial hair on men, because it's often a requirement that men have no facial hair.

risqueredhead, acutally one of the new rules at the resturant referred to in the article the men now have to be clean shaven if they want to work there as well.

I don't see the big deal. In my opinion, subtle makeup makes you look more professional. If you're willing to put on a uniform and wear your hair in a different way, why not wear make-up? Men have rules too, like being clean shaved. Should they say that's sexist because the rule only applies to them?
Bottom line, I think an employer has the right to determine how his employees present themselves. It directly affects his business...

Maybe the men can complain that they have to shave their faces so therefore the woman should have to too?

"It directly affects his business... "

It clearly doesn't directly effect business in this case, if you read the orginal artical you will see that this person had been working there for years and had gotten positive feedback from her former boss as well as customers.

We can wrap this up in the it's his business and can have these requirements if he wants bow. But this is definately a case that could be elevated to the State Supreme court...because there is specific laws around uniforms and in this case makeup is being required like it's a part of the uniform.

I knew a girl who worked at Lane Bryant, Their rule was you either wear makeup, jewelry or both.

If it's not against the law to make women wear makeup then I'm assuming it shouldn't be against the law to make men wear makeup...which will be my first act when I get my own restaurant.

These days with jobs so hard to come by, I'd slap on some lipstick, eyeliner, and blush, and go with it! It's great to stand up for your principles, but you have to pay the mortgage too!

Make up is a manners... and on top of that, a light make up such as put on the foundation is also protect our skin...

Ha. I'd wear makeup for the new management and put on a show... I'd do my face like a clown and call it Cirque du Face, totally en vogue.

I would cave, just because work is really thin at the moment.

I'm also a waitress and I feel as though customers don't want to look at me if my hair or my makeup is sloppy. Each and every one of us, is required to look our best. Men, women, managers, chefs and front of house alike. If we look sloppy we lose customers, and our hours get cut because of the lack of business. So it's extra incentive.

The article starts off by saying how she thinks goopy makeup isn't for her. The thing is her complexion is fine, she really doesn't need foundation. Could she really not just throw on some mascara and lip gloss and call it a day. If clothing stores can tell you how to look then why can't a restaurant? The truth is even if you have perfect skin a little bit of makeup is still going to make you look more professional and make you look like you care about your appearance more. Now you're not going to get most guys to go all out and wear eye shadow and lipstick, but if the boss asks them to wear a little bit of cover up when they have a blemish is that really crossing the line? At a restaurant you want your staff to look healthy.

Well, I'm an upscale restaurant server and wear light makeup to work, but it's a personal decision. Unless it's a salon/spa or makeup counter job,(where it's basically your job to be a walking mannequin for their product)I think it's unfair.

I love makeup, so it wouldn't be a problem for me, but if it WERE, I would stand my ground. I sincerely doubt the men are required to wear makeup. I think it definitely is discrimination.

As I am posting, the votes are 50/50, which is really interesting.

I voted that I would cave and put on the makeup, even though I personally have extremely sensitive skin and rarely ever wear makeup. I would be so badly broken out eventually, that the makeup would become required to cover the acne, just leading to a vicious cycle. But, jobs are too precious these days to toss over taking a stand on lip gloss.

Really, how is it different than your employer requesting no facial piercings, no more than one earring per ear or natural hair colors only? A light dusting of bronzer and some lipgloss combined with some well shaped brows wouldn't exactly be that hard to do and after seeing her photo, I don't think that it's lack of makeup that was her problem -it looks like she is in need of a good hairdresser. I just don't get people who don't want to look professional/polished while on the job.

it's a bit of a touchy subject? I would have just stuck on some mascara and a tinted balm, but can anyone really see in a darkly lit restaurant? I had worked somewhere where makeup at first was necessary to look presentable, then rules changed to no makeup at all, then only store brand clothing dress code, to no jewelry at all. I find places like that is way annoying.

If they wanted to pay for my makeup, I would wear it (actually, I wear it all the time anyway), but I think being polished a presentable is a much more realistic expectation.

I love makeup, so I definitely would.

I've worked at a place where women weren't allowed to wear pants/slacks, though. We had to wear dresses or skirts. In all honesty, it didn't bother me that much. But I guess I have a tendency to just go with the flow.