The store I work in used to be owned by the group that we share the building with. They are still customers, one of our biggest, in fact, but they have no direct control or say when it comes to policies and whatnot. The organization we share the building with has a reputation for being very conservative.
My boss went to lunch with 3 of the big wigs several months back, and at that lunch they talked about how the store was going. The store makes nearly twice as much as it did under their control. This wasn’t pointed out. The customers are more pleased with the store’s inventory and staff. This wasn’t brought up. The work that we still do for them is being done, even if our staff is inundated with customers. This wasn’t brought up either. What was brought up is that one of them had a problem with my hair and ear ring.
My hair looks roughly like Gene Wilder’s in Young Frankenstein. Until recently, I rode my bike into work, so my hair was rather frizzy and wild. It has tamed quite a bit, but I do have curly hair none the less. My hair will have some craziness unless I put in some kind of hair gel or pomade, which will make life a living hell, since my hair is also thick. Getting that crap out of thick hair is folly.
I wasn’t told to do anything about it, but was advised that this is how they felt. Since then, my hair has calmed down. Today, the head cheese talked to my manager and asked if my hair “upset” her. She replied no, and pointe out that lately, today especially, my hair has been quite tame and clean cut. He said that he didn’t think it appropriate, and would talk to my manager’s boss if necessary.
Now I’m stressing out. Not so much because I care what this fuckass thinks about my looks, but some of the way he said it was extremely insulting. He said that he didn’t like the impression I was giving customers of their organization. I was a member of said organization. I went through their program to the end, earning recognitions of the highest degree. I continue to volunteer for this organization in several ways. I hold the values of this organization close to my heart, and try to personify them on a day to day basis. To infer, even to the most minor of degrees, that I do not represent this organization makes me sick to my stomach. I’ve known people in this group to be clean cut, but truly ruthless and heartless to the core. Granted, I’m not perfect, and have done things that I’m not proud of that weren’t ideal of someone in said group, but I am leagues beyond some of these people that have a conservative haircut.
I surely hope that someone reads this that knows of whom I speak. Because I still work for an affilliate of said group, and this group has been known for renouncing former participants, I would rather not mention which group it is, and would appreciate it if y’all didn’t say in the comments either.
Be a hippy.
Grow your hair.
Beat your own drum.
Damn the man.
Save the Empire.
Boobies.