Loosening Grooming Guidelines?

[emmagata]

Originally posted by EUROPA
I'm just happy Disney made the decision...this should improve the guest experience by 30-40 fold. I often see some very sad or grumpy CM's and I know that if they had cornrows everything would be better.

(stalking mode...)

Aside from the apparent sarcasm, I agree.

 

[leslieh]

I know it seems kind of funny, but constantly being told how you can look, not just your uniform or costume down to the details, but your hairstyle, your nail polish, your makeup, etc, can get very tired after awhile. You expect to be told what to wear, but even then the pantyhose and sneaker police get annoying. While working for Disney I got my hair cut into a Reese Witherspoon, Sweet Home Alabama kind of style (a Disney movie no less!) and my managers had to have a discussion with me as to whether or not it was appropriate. I did not get my haircut to rebel, or to cause problems, actually because I thought it would be easier working around the ovens and such to have short hair. It turned out that the problem was that I couldn't put it into a complete ponytail because it was a little too short. It was decided that I had to wear a headband with a hairnet (we wore hairnets anyways) to contain my new hairstyle. I thought all of this was just a bit on the rediculous side. There are much more important things to worry about than my hair, and I'm sure many other CMs feel the same way. You get the impression that it doesn't matter about any of the good things you're doing, that you're good at your job or that you're great with the guests, they're only interested in the stupid little things.

Cornrows are a very normal style for many African Americans, and to say that to let people wear a completely normal style leads Disney "to the hood" sounds pretty insensitive to me. Thanks God they loosened up a little bit, but there's a long, long, long way to go before their standards are "normal" much less sub-par.

 

[inaminute]

There are much more important things to worry about than my hair, and I'm sure many other CMs feel the same way.

Maybe from your point of view. As a customer, I'm glad your supervisors took measurements to ensure that YOUR hair didn't end up in MY food. Especially at the prices they charge--unless you consider that a little extra "perk" from the CM's?

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by leslieh
Cornrows are a very normal style for many African Americans, and to say that to let people wear a completely normal style leads Disney "to the hood" sounds pretty insensitive to me. Thanks God they loosened up a little bit, but there's a long, long, long way to go before their standards are "normal" much less sub-par.

Define normal. I've seen lots of TV shows from Africa and I don't recall seeing many "cornrows" among the tribesmen or even the "civilized" people. Now if your talking about the "African Americans" that have never seen Africa or would have trouble finding it on the map...then yes it is a popular hairstyle, then again so were Mohawks and spike haircuts colored blue at one time.

 

[HB2K]

Sadly, yes in some instances. My friend once had to prove she was wearing undergarments because she had no visible panty lines and I had the pleasure of counseling another CM about washing hair and bathing regularly, and the theory behind deodorant. We went on the honor system unless we had reason to suspect otherwise.

If true, this person should speak to a lawyer.

The fact that her supervisor was LOOKING for panty lines, then FORCING a subordinate to "drop trou" to prove she was wearing said panties is sexual harrasment. This type of enforcement is RIPE for abuse (or allegations of said abuse).

I think that would be QUITE interesting to see the outcome should someone make an issue of this.

 

[WDWAurora]

I'm curious about the one ring per finger limit. What if it is a married woman, who wears both an engagement and wedding band? I doubt many people would see that as over the top, but it sounds as though a married woman would have to choose one or the other....Or am I reading that too specifically?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

What is a cornrow?

 

[DC7800]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
What is a cornrow?

Thank You! I thought I was the only one who didn't know...

 

[WDWAurora]

It's tightly braided hair, done close to the scalp in thin strips. Hope that helps!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Thanx, WDWAurora.
I guess I come down on the side that does not want to see guys sporting a cornrow.

I appreciate from the input from the castmember, however I respectfully disagree. I pay big dollars to Disney, and like seeing the castmembers looking a tad better (grooming wise) than your everyday person.

 

[King Triton]

Disney needs to allow beards. Hey....isn't Santa Claus in the Disney Christmas parade??? Imagine if Jesus wanted to work at Disney and was turned down because of a no beard policy. And what about ME!!!!!!! King Triton has a beard. Oh Ariel would be so upset if I wasn't allowed to work at Disney right by her side.

 

[maleficent1959]

Originally posted by WDWAurora
I'm curious about the one ring per finger limit. What if it is a married woman, who wears both an engagement and wedding band? I doubt many people would see that as over the top, but it sounds as though a married woman would have to choose one or the other....Or am I reading that too specifically?

That's the only exception.

 

[JoNo]

For anyone wondering.... these are cornrows

 

[carone0318]

Just thought that I'd let you know that Disney is not the only place that you can't be growing a beard, but you can have one. When ny dh worked for Merrill Lynch, it was the same policy. If you want a beard or mustach you grew it on you vacation and came back to work with it. I don't like facial hair, so it was non-issue in our household.

In regards to the "look" that is required, if you don't like it, you don't have to work there. The way the unemployment rate is going in this country, most should be happy that they have a job! Wouldn't you know about all of the requirements before you started there, if you don't like it, don't apply. There are probably 3 people right behind you that look the part they want and will gladly take the job!!!!

 

[Swamp_Fox]

Actually there are beard sporting employees of disney they usually work in Burbank in WDI.

As for the "cornrow hairstyle" MY OPINION is although it may be acceptable in some circles I don't quite think it is the right image for Disney. On the flip side of the coin I wouldn't think a "mohawk" hairstyle or hair dyed bright green would be appropiate either.

Remember Disney is not just a theme park it is a multi-Billion dollar company and like all company's it's within their rights to have a certain dress code/ or employee look.

Swamp_Fox

 

[leslieh]

Inaminute~
Just to make it clear, my hair had always been in a hairnet at work, no matter the hairstyle, and therefore was in no danger of ending up in anyone's food. I just did not think a simple haircut warranted a meeting with managers to discuss the "situation" as if I had commited a much more serious crime. I can handle my own hair and am not a child who needs assistance in the matter. If I had gotten a haircut, say as a mowhawk like so many have mentioned, it would have prevented me from wearing a hairnet and would have been much more extreme, therefore it would have been a much different matter. And, prior to my haircut, I think my much longer hair would have been far more at risk to get into food or cause other problems than short hair.
I agree with the poster who stated that they paid a lot of money to visit Disney and would like to see well-groomed cast members. However, this is not the subject of the discussion. I am not arguing that CMs should be allowed to run around scraggly and dirty, doing whatever they please. There is quite a middle ground between allowing a person to get their hair cut in a very normal style and allowing un-sanitary or ungroomed workers.
And, as to the cornrows being a "normal" style, I know this from looking around me. I live in a very diverse area and go to a very diverse university where many of the African Americans I know where cornrows. As is the concern, the cornrows keep the hair out of the face and secure, keeping any hair from getting into anyone's food. Like a previous poster, to the question, "Where are they going with this?" I answer, to the present. They have chosen to take a small step into modernity.

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by leslieh
They have chosen to take a small step into modernity.

Lets hope they take that step back. As I've pointed out mohawks were once very instyle too.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Cornrows are a rather nice alternative to putting lye on your hair to make it dead straight (often resulting in burns on the scalp I might add) or having your hair cut to a nubbin. They are common enough among people of African descent who do not live in Africa. There is nothing "hoody" about the style and IMHO people who have a problem with it are unbelievably sheltered. I have to say I'm curious what the alternative rule is for people who refuse to put harsh and harmful chemicals on their heads...how much volume does Disney permit on the head? (which would also apply to curly headed non-african americans as well).

 

[Swamp_Fox]

Ok folks lets take a deep breath here. I can see where this is going so lets take a step back and refocus on the main point before something ugly comes of it.

 

[gina2000]

Cast members still look neat, well groomed and clean. I'm glad to see the changes if it opens up the employment pool and makes CMs happier.