Can you rock a beard at work? Pretty simple question, however, the answer isn’t so easy. Of course you can, but the answer really goes a bit deeper than that. Similar to tattoos in the workplace, there has been a stigma against beards in the workplace since the emergence of corporate culture. According to a study by Univia 1 in 4 people had experienced appearance-based discrimination at work and 28% of respondents said they had shaved their face for work.
Now, does this mean that we should all mutiny in our workplaces and grow the longest beards we can? Although it might be good for my business, probably not. There are definitely some legitimate reasons for people in certain positions to not have a beard.
One example of that played out right here in Australia in 2014. A BHP Billiton worker was asked to shave his goatee after a failed safety test. The workers respirator mask could not secure itself the skin, therefore making it useless against any dangerous dusts. The worker in question was eventually fired for refusing to shave and the two ended up in court, with the judge quite understandably siding with BHP Billiton.
However, most jobs don’t have to deal with legal issues because of beards, just the perception and stigma that has been attached with them, particularly in the corporate world. However, with the new emergence in popularity over the last decade or so, beards are becoming more acceptable in workplaces and in some ways might even help you get ahead of the curve.
Many people associate beards with confidence, age and dominance. So, if your job requires you to be assertive or manage people then a beard is probably the way to go. However, even if you’re not in a position of power at work I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the idea of rocking a beard. If you are younger and want to be taken more serious at work growing out your face blanket might give you a few years of perceived experience on some of your baby faced colleagues.
So, should you rock a beard at work or not? Well, As long as there are no safety concerns, I say go for it. As long as you keep your beard clean and tidy there shouldn’t be any issues. I have worked in corporate, retail and hospitality environments and I have never come across anyone that had an issue.
Happy growing Pirates!