UPS Ends Ban On Beards And Natural Black Hairstyles

UPS has finally done it! On Wednesday, after a-long controversial fight regarding discrimination, the shipping company loosened their facial hair and hairstyle policies for their employees who are frequently interacting with the public.

Previously, according to CNN, most employees were restricted from having beards, and if they chose to have a mustache, it had to be “above the crease of the lip.” Women, black women specifically, were discouraged from wearing their hair in its natural state, as afro’s and braids were not allowed. Many Black female employees often criticized UPS, and “its appearance rules, particularly the hair guidelines, amounted to a form of discrimination.”

Though these limitations have been wiped out, “styles still must be business-appropriate and not pose a safety concern,” UPS wrote in its statement.

Gender-specific regulations have also been lifted, such as the length of uniform shorts.

While UPS can attribute their change in policy to their drive towards inclusivity, their dire need for more employees during the pandemic is surely a contributing factor.

After the CEO, Carol Tomé surveyed current employees. UPS learned that “changes in [these] areas would make them more likely to recommend UPS as an employer.”

Another contributing factor is the $4.9 million fine they paid to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2018 and their agreeance to “enter into a consent decree with the EEOC to allow greater freedom to wear beards and long hair by those who filed for a religious exemption.

According to the EEOC, UPS allegedly refused “to hire or promote individuals whose religious practices conflict with its appearance policy and failed to provide religious accommodations.” If you were to keep your beard due to religious beliefs, those employees would more than likely be segregated into “non-supervisory, back-of-the-facility positions without customer contact.”

Now, the company allows religious and medical exemptions for facial hair.

Nonetheless, UPS is after change. The company has broadened its employee training to include how to combat unconscious bias and how to promote diversity and inclusion.

“These changes reflect our values and desire to have all UPS employees feel comfortable, genuine and authentic while providing service to our customers and interacting with the general public,” UPS said in a statement, adding that the company is “determined to continue to make UPS a great place to work for all of our more than 500,000 employees around the world.”