Stacey Fearnall, whose father died of cancer, decided to shave her head for a cancer fundraising event. But when she returned to work at Nathaniels restaurant, where she worked as a waiter, she was laid off:
The mother of two, who was told by her boss to go home after she refused to wear a wig, was in tears when she returned home Tuesday just a half hour into her shift.
"When she went in she felt like there was something wrong with her,'' her husband said. "Nobody would really look at her, make eye contact. They didn't really say anything and it made her feel kind of less than human.''
It was a slow night so she came home early, but when she called to say she'd be in the next day, she was told not to bother, he added.
Nathaniels owner and chef Dan Hilliard defended his decision, saying the restaurant has certain standards. He prohibits male staff from wearing earrings and requires employees keep their hair at a reasonable length.
She could go baldy outside work but should wear a wig at work - or just not cut her hair off at all and use a rubber cover.
The appearance of an employee or manager is very important in business.
BTW, my mother-in-law has been through three bouts of cancer. Before chemo, she bought two wigs and some turbans. She never wore the wigs. When you don't have hair, wigs are very uncomfortable and difficult to wear. She wore turbans until her hair came in about an inch, then just let it show.