loose hair
Dread Maintenance
funny thing is i've thought the same thing. what if i acted flamboyantly gay the entire time. they would have a fit. and i would probably get fired. our target range for cutomers is people who make 80 thousand a year and over. which i find completely rediculous. i've worked in many other restaurants, always cooking or washing dishes. and never had a huge problem with my appearance. i used to frame pictures at a local craft store. i was a SALESMAN. now how many people you think would take advice on making their art look better from a crazy haired bearded guy, who was stoned the whole time. fact of the matter is i was the top salesman. my mission is now to show people (general public, and employers) that the way you appear is not always the way you act. fuck the first impression rule.
Sister Rags said: Well, I've worked in food service for 6 years and even tho' the place I work is probably, seriously, the least rule-bound business possible, there is definitely sexism in food service. We women can wear tanks tops, for example, but the guys get bitched at (not that they listen, but still). The guys have to be at least somewhat "neat" with their hair and IF they have a beard, it has to be trim. The women...we tend to pin our hair back, put it in pigtails, wear a headwrap, something - still, we have more leeway.
I am really, truly sorry for the situation you're in, Eric. It SUCKS, and the whole thing is so stupid. If I were you, I would be sooooooo tempted to go to work with my dreads in cute pigtails, adorned with nice bows - then see what they say to you >:-(