Should you have to ask your employers before you color your hair something non-traditional?

[Anonymous]

My nanny colors her like the rainbow relatively regularly and I don't think it's ever occurred to either of us that she should have asked first. My girls (2) think it's pretty. She's the most amazing nanny in the world, so to me, the color of her hair is not something I'm concerned with. Nor do I think it's my business to tell her what to do with her hair.

[Anonymous]

I am a MB. Nanny is not required to ask. But if she gets a color that the MB doesn't like, the MB should have freedom to fire. In all reality, which MB will fire over hair color? But you bet I made all kinds of inferences about nanny candidates' based on their appearances, especially if they had a ton of jewelry or tattoos, their hair style was wothin normal, if they dressed sexy (no thank you), if they wore sensible clothes or not.

In any job, HR managers make judgments about candidates every day. As a job candidate, you dress and groom yourself for the job. There is a dress protocol at many jobs. Mine has a list of prohibited clothing. We are required to look professional.

So I support firing based on appearances, though I don't think it hardly ever happens. The change would have to be drastic. The person would have to change to a Nazi skinhead style, put on KKK or Isis tattoos, plus pierce their nose tongue and 4 extra on the nose. You get the idea.

[Anonymous]

As an MB I wouldn't care at all but we're very laid back people. I had fun hair when I was young so it simply wouldn't bother me. You need to feel out your MB. Conservative types who care what their uptight neighbors think might care.

[Anonymous]

I am aware this is a very old post but I am replying to bump it because I am curious to see if things have changed since 2017. So, what are your thoughts?

I wouldn’t want my nanny to wear anything offensive but I definitely don’t care about hair, piercings, that she wear business causal clothing, etc. I am most likely one of the youngest employers of nannies on this board, so I am also wondering if that is a factor in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. I know that many industries and companies have policies like this but it is wrong for any MB/DB to dictate what a nanny can and cannot do with their physical appearance as long as the nanny is clean.

Actually, yes, they do have a right to expect you to appear and act professional. You want to be treated as a professional act like one.

One of the teller at my bank has pink hair and it looks lovely. It is none of an employer's business the color of an employee's hair. If coloring one's hair was a fireable offense then there would be no women with blonde hair in the workforce.

[Anonymous]

MB here. Never cared and DS' nanny often let DS choose what her next color would be.

Pretty much our only "requirements" were to wear clothing that was appropriate for running around with a kid with. And obviously nothing offensive.