• Introduction
  • Application of the Civil Rights Act
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Age Discrimination in Employment Act
  • Equal Rights
  • Education
  • Pregnancy
  • First Amendment Rights
  • Due Process
  • Equal Protection
  • Education
  • Appearance
  • Smoking
  • Pay
  • Voting
  • Equal Access
  • Governmental Immunity
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Right to Privacy
  • Religious Freedoms
  • Sexual Harassment

    • Appearance

    Contents

    Employers, schools, government agencies and the military often enact strict regulations concerning appearance, such as hair length and beards. These codes are typically upheld if they are applied in a non-discriminatory manner. For example, a rule requiring all male students to be clean-shaven is not discriminatory.

    My religion requires that I grow and maintain a beard. Do I have to shave if my employer has a policy against facial hair?

    No. Your religious tenets cannot be obstructed. For instance, a Sikh male can claim discrimination if he will lose his job for maintaining his beard.

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