Work hired me and now threatening to fire me because i'm wearing

I just got hired but on the third day, they pulled me aside after work and told me that unfortunately they can't have me "dress up and wear makeup". They told me I look like a distraction to the young male customers in their late teens and that I should try to dress down. I told them this is how you hired me, I can't just not wear makeup and dress down.

I literally was wearing only mascara with a slim line of eyeliner. I wear little - moderate makeup, never a lot. So taking off my wee bit of makeup won't change my face. What am I supposed to do?

For clothes, I was wearing a black blazer and black jeans with 1 inch heels and a classy pink shirt. I'm freaking in my twenties and they're telling me to dress down?? How do I freaking do that? They're all in their 50s-60s and wear frumpy wrinkled shirts/pants but they DO wear heels and makeup.

I work at an office as the receptionist and this is how I dress professionally. There's no low-cut shirts, no cleavage showing, I didn't even wear SKIRTS. I was going to but now I won't dare. They were dead serious and told me that I should start dressing differently soon because it's not right for the teenagers. Give me a break!

What do I do? No makeup is dumb when they all wear 10x more than me. I don't wear much at all. It takes me three seconds to do my makeup. Eyeliner, mascara, done. What do I wear? Wrinkled baggy t-shirts and sweats? This is a professional building I work in, not some slum area, sheesh.

Has this happened to anyone else? Is this actually normal nowadays?

Voting Results
27% Normal
Based on 41 votes (11 yes)
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Comments ( 28 )
  • modernism

    Pretty people problems.

    Just tell them you can't help it if you're beautiful and they're not. *finger snap*

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    • 53739

      that would work so well

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  • Cuntsades_

    I got fired from Burger King for jerking off behind the dumpster.

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    • donteatstuffoffthesidewalk

      i got promoted for jerkin off atop the dumpster

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    • goodatgiving

      Making "special sauce" I presume ?

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  • zsdworknman

    Try slacks and blouses that are made for such environments I'm not supporting your bosses view but trying to offer a helpful suggestion

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  • THL22

    That Sucks! I bet they're just jealous because you are a confident young lady who happens to look better then them. Believe me I don't think anyone can fire you for that. Unless ofcourse it's in the probation periode. Then they don't need a reason. Maybe you can try talking to you HR manager? I'd strongly advice that. They are supposed to help you. I hope I was of any help to you:)

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  • pixie44

    I feel like they should want you there to attract more customers. Why is it your fault you're not the one distracted your able to get shit done. Fuck them.

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  • Dittto

    My ex girlfriend was treated the same way in the aesthetics program she was taking. She was told her outfits were too distracting for the male students when she was wearing the same exact shirt as most of the girls in the school, she eventually couldn't take it, and dropped out. What I would consider would be to talk to someone higher up about it. It's jealousy they probably think we're all old hags, and this pretty young woman is taking all of the attention.

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  • dinz

    Reminded me of the time when a colleague of mine was told the same thing. She did not wear revealing clothing nor work excessive amounts of makeup.

    Later we found out that the wife of the manager was the one who told him to tell her. The bitch thought she could meddle in the operations of the business using her husband as a puppet. Thankfully, after the floor complained to higher manager, she backed off.

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  • handsignals

    I got fired from The Cheesecake Factory for puking in the Minestrone, which sucked because the customers didn't notice.

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  • howaminotmyself

    You're so pretty.

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  • NOBODY2015

    No what they did to you is NOT NORMAL
    They are probably very JEALOUS of you
    or very conservative

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  • Riddler

    Did they agree you had to wear make up before you signed up for the job? If not I dont think they can suddenly require and I think if you really want you can sue for disorientation.

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  • Lol that honestly does sound like a bunch of jealous old ladies to me. Read the employee handbook and find out if you're in violation of the dress code, and if not, point that out, along with pointing out that THEY wear heels and makeup and yet expect you to conform to different standards. Be sure to mention the word "discrimination".

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  • Mersaphe

    are you seriously complaining about being attractive? i'm so sorry but some of us aren't as naturally blessed with god given good looks as you. i have zero sympathy you attention seeking brat. grow up and stop feeding us your stupid problems because no one honestly gives a rat's ass.

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  • NeuroNeptunian

    I got fired from Toys R Us for trying to sell toddlers before the bar codes were taped on. Go figure.

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  • reminiscent

    They sound jealous...

    I would say less flashy colors... try dull colors in your clothing.
    And try dull makeup.... more natural looking application.

    For some clothing examples
    the brown non flashy outfit here

    https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/bf/08/78/bf08786a2bb6a035cf5b8c86eb99120f.jpg

    And the white shirt here (not the skirt)

    http://image.ec21.com/image/fang117de/oimg_GC06947718_CA06947729/The_Women's_Cotton_Long_Sleeve_Business_Shirts.jpg

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    • charli.m

      This.

      It's shitty that they're being dicks about it, but maybe this is a good compromise?

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    • reminiscent

      Also try lower heels or shoes with no heels at all

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  • Arm0se

    Well fuck, I wish I were told it would be better if I looked uglier.

    Also, don't they WANT more customers?

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  • donteatstuffoffthesidewalk

    is yall workin in an atwill state?

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  • TrustMeImLying

    LOL are you serious? Never have I heard of anything like this. Do the "young male customers" spend a lot of time with or around you?

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  • thegypsysailor

    I guess it comes down to your wanting to keep the job, or not. Either comply or leave; what other choice do you have?

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    • Ellenna

      Oh lovely gypsysailor, surely you're not suggesting that workers have no rights and that bosses can be as unreasonable as they want to be, the only choice is to leave or comply?

      Just as well this hasn't been a universal attitude down the centuries or little children and pregnant women would still be pulling coal carts on all fours down in the coal mines.

      Of course, it's still the attitude in some countries, hence our cheap clothing, technology, you name it made with slave labour ...... not to mention tobacco, harvested & dried by small children who are raped by the overseers if they don't make quota .......

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      • thegypsysailor

        I'm guessing you have never had any employees.
        A company has neither the time, nor the inclination to accede to the individual desires of it's employees.
        It is hard enough keeping a company on a solid enough economic footing these days to keep paying the employees.
        In exactly the same situation, I would advise the employee to meet the company standards, and if they chose not to, well, there are plenty of people who will do, and want the job.
        How would you suggest I deal with a multiracial, multicultural, multinational crew of over 250 individuals on a cruise ship? Coddle each and every one's personal desires, or set a standard which everyone must follow to the letter, equally?
        Remember now, many of these crew members must deal with the passengers and that I have lots more to do than deal with these kinds of bullshit crew issues.
        You may sit there in your gilded cage, criticizing my comments, but in the real world, if you want to work, you will so do on the terms your employer demands. If this is not acceptable, then start your own company and make your own rules.

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        • Ellenna

          I've been a supervisor of only 2 people a long time ago and ran the small department as a team with us all having a say but me having the final responsibility, which I know is totally different to what you're talking about and obviously that dynamic wouldn't work with a large group of employees.

          I'm not suggesting any coddling, just fair treatment, which it doesn't seem OP is getting if her dress standard is the same as other employees but still not acceptable. If that employer followed yr guidelines of one standard for all employees, there wouldn't be the issue she asked about. From what you say, I don't think you'd be as unreasonable as her employers seem to be regarding her dress standards.

          Ha Ha Ha gilded cage, that's REALLY funny, I'm a disability pensioner in a rented house who does as much casual work as my health allows, which is getting less as I age and my health deteriorates, just to survive. I would be richer if I'd been prepared years ago to do the unethical things the top flight corporate lawyers I worked for expected of me, but I just couldn't do it and chose to take a huge drop in income rather than compromise my principles.

          I do have my own rules for the casual work I do, which include not accepting below award wages or dangerous conditions. I'm very resourceful at surviving on a very low income and I prefer this to living lies in my working life. Gilded cages come at far too high a price for me

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    • hauntedbysandwiches

      Woah man.

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