Full makeup to work everyday: who would have thought that would be a requirement?
Earlier this month, The Guardian reported on a story about a 24 year-old woman working at Harrods who was forced to quit her job because she did not wear a full face of make-up to work.
For four years, the young employee, Melanie Stark, worked at Harrods with out wearing any make-up. Despite her lack of face, her superiors described her as one of the hardest working employees to date. However, their sentiments changed as a new rule was introduced.
“Full makeup at all time: base, blusher, full eyes (not too heavy), lipstick, lip liner and gloss are worn at all time and maintained discreetly (please take into account the store display lighting which has a ‘washing out’ effect).”
Melanie refused to abide by such rules. She enjoyed her natural face without make-up, and had no intentions of altering her looks for anyone. Her managers offered her makeup products and classes, but Melanie would not budge. She was sent home on several occasions, and on some days she was asked to work in the stock room, in order to prevent her from being seen by customers. Eventually, the toll of the new rule became too much for Melanie to bear, so she quit.
While I am someone who wouldn’t dare head to work without a little concealer, mascara, eyeliner and gloss, I have no problem with a woman who chooses not to wear make-up. As long as you look presentable and get the job done, I have no qualms.
What do you think? Is it right for a company to require you to wear make-up to work?
-Chelsey Wilkins
Yeah its fair ,there are requirements in her job she s obliged to comply.Harrods is one of the most posh ,luxurious ,if not the most famous shopping center in London,she represent the shop and looking sloppy will only discourage people from buying ,while giving a bad image to the name brand.
I work for an airline when I see some of my cooworkers “forgetting” to put on make up looking all pasty or with dark circles and dry lips ,that to me looks unprofessional,gives a bad image to the airline.A Polished ,well groomed look makes you look professional,clean,and makes you look more approachable.To me not wearing makeup in a public profession is like not showering,or fixing your hair ,the finish look is “im lazy i cant be bothered to groom myself let leave alone working”.
I don’t think it’s fair to her. She could have had sensitive skin and been able to wear that much make up. She could have been beautiful with out make up clogging up pores.
If thats the case she shouldnt have agreed and signed on a contract that require her to wear make up.
Also,there are tons of make up ranges formulated for sensitive skin ,and wearing mascara and lipstick is still an effort Its like me saying I wont shave my legs cuz i have sensitive skin ,and have to wear a skirt for work .
1. It was a new rule that was implemented AFTER she had been working for the company for some time. She did not agree to that when she started the job.
2. Some people don’t wear make-up because it is bad for the skin.
3. Some people don’t wear make-up for religious reasons.
4. No person should be FORCED to alter their physical appearance EVER…
I AGREE WITH YOU. THIS WAS NOT IN HER CONTRACT WHEN SHE WAS HIRED. THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM ON THEIR HANDS.
NO ONE SHOULD BE FORCE TO WEAR ALL THAT MAKE UP, IF SHE CHOOSES NOT TOO.
Groom means clean and orderly, like bathing, brushing the hair, etc. Just because you think that women look ugly without make up doesn’t mean that they should put on make up, it means that you should stop being so SHALLOW. It is a sick world we live in when women can not go around naturally. They have to put on makeup, dye their hair, and wear uncomfortable clothing just to accommodate for shallow twisted people like you.
I can’t say that I agree. Dry lips can be remedied with Chap-stick or tinted lip gloss, and I’ll bet $50 that under eye circles can be reduced with some natural remedy. Coming to work without makeup does not equal unprofessional/sloppy, but not taking care of yourself by not doing your hair, not moisturizing, etc does equal unprofessional-looking.
I don’t think she should have been forced to wear a full face of makeup. People do need to make sure that they look presentable and polished, but you don’t absolutely have to wear makeup for that. A nice, clean, professional hairstyle, moisturized skin will do the job. If someone has acne pits, scars or keloids on their face, makeup won’t help as much as a dermatologist or a skincare regimen would. Some people who have major skin imperfections might need to use something to conceal the marks, but a full face of makeup is a ridiculous requirement. And plus, this woman had been working there for four years, and those were not the conditions she was hired under.
Wearing make-up has nothing to do with being “finished” or “polished” And how can you believe that everyone who doesn’t wear make-up has bad skin, dark circles, etc. It is my personal experience that the people with the worst skin are the ones who DO wear makeup on a regular basis. First of all, anything that does not have the ability to be absorbed into your skin (water or moisturizer) is going to be bad for your skin becasue it just sits on top of your skin blocking oxygen from getting in and oils from getting out. So, as a result, what you end up with are pores clogged with some really yucky things which is a perfect recipe for acne, blackheads, & all sorts of nasty skin imperfections. Then you have to keep covering those things up with even more makeup, therefore continuing the cycle of abuse to your skin. In order for skin to be beautiful, it needs to be natural and free of all these coverings. Make-up does not make a woman beautiful, polished, neat, or well-groomed. It makes her into something like a human canvas, setting her up to be objectified & judged by ignorant people (much like yourself) for something that isnt even a part of who she is and what she really looks like, but is whipped up & sold in a bottle & ggets washed down the drain at the end of the day. Come on people! Wake up already! Besides, any “brand” that would choose to represent itself by forcing women to forfeit a piece of their humanity should not be supported by anyone, ESPECIALLY women. The fact that you’re a woman saying these things make me feel even worse.
I think it is fair. They are a luxury business, so it makes sense. They provided her with products and classes which is the right thing to do. She also can’t be looked down upon for quitting because she didn’t feel comfortable with the new requirements.
It is fair. She works for a very prestigious company and can buy the best make-up they have on the market. Foundation, mascara, lipstick—–Poof! Your done.
it’s fair with in reason, the amount of make up is obscene, a light base, mascara and lip gloss is acceptable unless you work on counter (beauty) where u are suppose to promote the product when working for a major cosmetics and hair care brand i had to where 10 seperate make up products (i didn’t know there was that much!) fortunately for me they did not provide a wide enough range of make up (a whole other post!!!) i now work in a salon and you MUST wear make up and have clean groomed hair but we are selling an ideal and an image, that is the same with harrods but as i said within reason the amount they require is stupid! x
No, it’s not fair. First of all, there’s no reason to believe that Melanie was unkept or ill groomed without make-up. Secondly, her lack of make-up, prior to the rule didn’t affect her job performance for the past four years, or else she would’ve been let go. Third, are men required to wear make-up, on the job, or just women? I don’t know what the labor laws are like in the UK, but yes, this strikes me as being sexist and absurd.
Interesting, I am kind of on the fence with this because I remember the same thing happen with some companies that wanted to make wearing pantyhose at work mandatory for women and I was dead set against that idea. But you have to keep in mind the company you work for and your profession and some companies are more strict with their work attire than others. Since Harrods is kind of a luxury store you do have dress the part and be presented in a certain way that represents the company NOT you during your working hours and that rule applies whether you work at Popeye’s or the White House. But I think the request is within reason of this simple makeup look (the look they describe could take about 5 to 10 minutes to do) it is not like they were asking you to paint your face like a showgirl. I have a friend who works in Sephora and he applies the product and makeup to his skin for a better sale
If this was a McDonalds or some teaching gig, I would cry “unfair!”…but considering the job industry in which she works…tough titty sweetie. Unfortunately, we live in a world that requires us to maintain appearances for things like this. I would’ve put on the makeup but also been sending out resumes..
Sorry.
When I see a women out in public, esp. at work without make-up it looks like she didn’t finish getting ready. But maybe I’ve been brainwashed!
Yes, you have. Makeup is used as a tool to promote false standards of beauty. It’s one and only objective is to ensure that women depend on these products so that the beauty industry remains profitable. If the companies behind such products really had women’s best interest at heart, then lipsticks, mascaras, eyeshadows and foundations wouldn’t be laden with toxins that can be harmful to your health. But they do.
This is just one of the many tactics that our consumer-driven society uses to compel women to rely almost entirely on external qualities that are as superficial as they are counterintuitive. Since when did a fresh, naturally beautiful face equal unfinished, unkempt, poorly groomed, etc? Makeup is an uneccessary byproduct of pernicious intent, piquing at our most basic human needs in order to gain a profit. We’ve taken their subliminal messages for truth and have become bound to the school of thought that we are only enhancing what we already have…you’re not. Instead it’s become a crutch that can easily threaten your self-esteem.
The only way to enhance your natural beauty is from the inside out. Eating real food, being kind to others, remaining humble and understanding who you are and what you were put on this earth for really works wonders.
touche princess.
Yep, I think you’ve been brainwashed. Good answer Princess!
I think it is absurd that she was required to even wear that much make-up. Clearly, she must have been presentable in the past, because I think at a company like Harrods, even without the enforcement of the new make-up rule, you would still have to present yourself in a polished and professional light. There are plenty of women who can show up to work with a natural face. And why not? Make-up should be a CHOICE not a requirement. So, what, are they saying that women are not beautiful without make-up? And I’m sure the men are not being asked to wear concealer, foundation, mascara, and lip gloss. So, if they’re not being asked to wear make-up, the women should have a choice of whether or not they wish to wear make-up to work. It’s undoubtedly a sexist rule.
Princess & R.J
Let em’ know. Co-sign the both of you. Let Harrods come up with a policy requiring black women to have permed hair, and watch the fur fly. Cuz, you know, “When I see women out in public, especially at work, without a perm, it looks like she didn’t finish getting ready . . .” (rolls eyes)
OMGGGGG!! You hit the nail right on the head!! I cannot believe that something like this actually happened. This pisses me off soooo much!!! I dont give a damn what so-called company you work for- Since when did it become unprofessional to look like a HUMAN BEING?!! This has got to be the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard of in my life. In no way, shape or form should something that you put on your face define who you are or how well you can do your job. It’s one thing to have a dress code at work- that is totally understandable. But to ask someone to alter the part of their body that holds their identity simply to “represent” a brand is absurd, not to mention sexist. It would be different if they picked one day out of the month to try & promote the sell of certain products & ASKED HER PERMISSION to model the products on her face so customers can see them. But to tell someone not to show up to work just because they refuse to conform to some bullshit fake image that a company is tryng so hard to push- just insane!! I swear, if i were her, i would sue the pants off of them! Its things like this that remind me of the real reason i dont wear make-up. People are too stupid to realize that rubbing goop all over your face does not make you who you are. *sighs* Wow.
I love make up however, I do not wear it everyday. I do think this is a bit unfair. As stated in the article she worked very hard for years prior to the make up rule going into effect. Have we become that shallow that we label women as being unkept, ungroomed, or unprofessional for to not wearing make up at work? *major shrugs and eye rolls*
So not wearing makeup constitutes you as being sloppy? Really? there are plenty of women who don’t wear makeup who are very beautiful and don’t need it. How in world do you come to the conclusion that they appear sloppy because they don’t. There are many women who are highly allergic and can’t wear any of it regardless of whether it says hypoallergenic or not. So to make that requirement is a little unfair. And it appears it was a new requirement not something in her contract when she first went to work for the company. I guess next if you have natural hair you’ll be forced to perm it because it doesn’t fit that beauty standard either.
when you find yourself employed in a company like harrods you are selling a lifestyle above normal you should look the part.
OMG! Just shut the f**k up! You have no idea how stupid you sound right now. You are actually endorsing sexism in its purest form and all in the name of business. You’re basically saying that it is okay to place human beings in a derogatory category as long as somebody is making a profit. It is because of women who think like you that we will never be able to get past sexism. I’m sorry, but women who cosign sexism disgust me.
bhnjm
I think it fair for woemns to wear make up at work, that means to show up some respect for the company that she works. Also I dont think some one will like to see at bank a women who looks that just wake up.
I don’t wear make-up and I don’t look like I just woke up. Make up can make people look like a clown. I look good without make up
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i think requiring women to wear makeup is discriminatory.
The requirement doesn’t seem that unreasonable or uncommon considering the industry Melody chose to work in. Perhaps she could’ve compromised and somehow applied just *enough* makeup to placate management while appeasing her preference for not wearing loads of it…
Seems as if management dropped the ball by not reinforcing the rule right from the beginning, when she started. I realize they appreciated her worth ethic so was willing to not make a big deal, but if it was mandatory… then they should’ve mentioned that to her when she first started the job.
I’m guessing it was always a rule, but they chose to be lenient on her because she did good work… but maybe a supervisor/someone corporate came through and noticed it… and demanded the rule be reinforced. I know the article mentioned it being a “new rule” but somehow, this doesn’t strike me as something new as it does as something they just opted to ignore up until this point.
Just ‘enough’ was not an option.
A lot of people keep skimming through the article, try reading it all the way through.
It says,”their sentiments changed as a NEW rule was introduced.”
I think its fair…its their job requirement. Its similar to a company’s dress code. If I was her boss I wouldn’t jump through hoops by buying her products or sending her to classes…I would just fire her for not complying with company policy.
So basically you’re saying that it is unprofessional to be human. Wher do you get the idea that not wearing makeup is equivalent to looking sloppy? We were not born with makeup on!! It’s not some natural appearance/ hygiene habbit like bathing or brushing your teeth or combing your hair. Its changing the way a person looks. Last time i checked, it was illegal to discriminate against someone for the way they look when it comes to facial features or body type. Is it okay to fire somebody for not being a certain weight or not having a certain hair type or length? Man, i hope you dont ever have to supervise other people- You’re a coldhearted, unreasonable B*TCH!!
You must be new. This is not a gutter site. We are ladies of varying opinions but we all get along great. YOU however are of a baser sort w/some kind of feminist agenda. Please NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER come back. Take your evil self to therapy. Clearly you have some unresolved issues that leave you festering with hate. I think Bossip is more your style. Cause we don’t resort to violent language. We know how to communicate.
Thank you kindly.
I love mascara, lip gloss, and brow powder, or pencil…that’s all I like or need. I love to play up my eyes. However, I would not like being told that I must wear make up to keep my job…that’s crazy. Why did they hire her if she didn’t look polished to begin with?
Although, I like makeup, I admire people with extremely smooth skin, because they don’t need any makeup to look polished.
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Totally Unfair. It’s amazing that people think that it is reasonable to FORCE emplyees to do something that could be UNHEALTHY. That is a health risk to many. Allergies, sensitive skin, etc are all possible affects. That’s like forcing me to eat FRIED FOODS on a daily basis! It does not affect everyone exactly the same initially and the long term affects are always negative. I would sue if I were her. If this were some make-up store then I might understand the idea behind the rule, but posh, high class, etc does not always translate into make-up. I should know. I do not wear makeup myself and would never do something unhealthy to my skin to please anyone else.
It’s not unfair at all, it’s a job requirement. I had a job once where I WASN’T allowed to wear make-up, because of how the brand wanted to be represented. When you work in retail, you’re selling a brand and an image, period.
I have worked in retail and customer service for years and the requirements to up sell whatever the brand or product usually fell within either wearing or demonstrating the product with complete knowledge. If she had been working at Harrods for 4 years without being required to wear full make-up then she obviously was already properly representing the company and unless she worked in the make-up department the mandate is ridiculous.Setting it up to be a an overall mandate is shallow and placing it under the rules of dress codes is just a band aid to get around any insult or discrimination this may imply. And for everyone who believes it’s okay because of the company it represents maybe you all need to check your narrow view of what’s upscale. Just because something is a rule doesn’t make it right. We aren’t talking about someone showing up in broken or smelly clothes but someone who wanted a choice of what she put on her face. The others didn’t comply cause it made sense, they rationalized it made sense so they could keep their jobs and plenty of people will do that for that reason regardless of how unfair something might be.
Has it come to this? Make-up? I find it insulting that her quality of hard work for 4 years was marred simply because she refused to wear make-up! Our society is so hell bent on “looks”. Some women come under fire because they choose to sport what God gave them…their natural hair and their natural skin/face. Standard of beauty shouldn’t be judged by outside appearances because if your personality shines through then your “looks” take a back seat.
I think it was unfair to her when she was approached to do so. But I would say that it would’ve been fair if during her hiring process 4 years ago that she agreed to wear a full line of make-up by signing a written contract then refusing to comply. But on the terms that was presented to us, I not only think it was unfair, I also think it was absurd!
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It,s not really a quation of is it fair. Life is NOT fair. Is it reasonable ? yes in most cases. Is it fair to require men to be clean shaven every day ? NO it,s not but it is resonably expected in most working situations.