OT: KLM stewardess gets fired over having too short hair
Oct 26, 2010, 9:32 am
#1
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OT: KLM stewardess gets fired over having too short hair
From Nu.nl.
In short:
KLM has a policy that states that the minimum length of hair has to be 1 centimetre. As her hair length was 2 millimetres she got laid off.
According to the article before 2007 they stated that her hair was too short, but they did not make a fuss out of it. Only from then did they find it offensive.
Interesting fact from the judge:
According to the judge it is not sociably accepted behaviour for women to shave their head bald and ruled in favour of KLM.
In short:
KLM has a policy that states that the minimum length of hair has to be 1 centimetre. As her hair length was 2 millimetres she got laid off.
According to the article before 2007 they stated that her hair was too short, but they did not make a fuss out of it. Only from then did they find it offensive.
Interesting fact from the judge:
De Haarlemse kantonrechter stelde dat het bijna kaalscheren van hoofdhaar bij vrouwen maatschappelijk niet algemeen aanvaard is en stelde de luchtvaartmaatschappij in het gelijk.
Oct 26, 2010, 10:04 am
#2
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I hope there is more to the story than this, as this sounds a bit too far out... SERIOUSLY!
Oct 26, 2010, 10:12 am
#3
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I've checked the press reports and apparently this lady claims that she never had any complaints from any passengers, but nothing but positive remarks instead:
Hesselberth zelf zegt van passagiers en collega's van andere maatschappijen juist veel positieve opmerkingen te hebben gekregen. Ze realiseert zich dat stewardess een representatieve functie is, maar denkt daarbij niet in de eerst plaats aan haar. "Belangrijker is de manier waarop een passagier wordt behandeld tijdens de vlucht. De service zit hem in de oprechtheid en niet in het haar.'
http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1003/You/article/detail/524387/2010/10/26/Stewardess-KLM-ontslagen-om-kort-koppie.dhtml
http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1003/You/article/detail/524387/2010/10/26/Stewardess-KLM-ontslagen-om-kort-koppie.dhtml
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Last edited by Gajan; Oct 27, 2010 at 4:41 am Reason: profanity
Oct 26, 2010, 10:46 am
#4
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I don't agree with the judge's reasoning...but I side with KLM on this one. What is written in the rule book is just that. Personally, I'm not impressed by a lot of the grooming or lack of it, presented by some KLM crew but a shaven head - male or female would be too much for me.
Oct 26, 2010, 11:12 am
#5
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I don't see what the issue is. 2mm isn't shaved, that would be 0mm.
As long as she does her job properly and isn't scruffy and or unwashed then there is no problem.
As long as she does her job properly and isn't scruffy and or unwashed then there is no problem.
Oct 26, 2010, 11:33 am
#6
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I hope she appeals and wins, that kantonrechter must have trained during the Inquisition.
I recall that KL tried to fire a captain in the 80s because he wore a beard, which was against company regulations. The captain won in court, despite KL claiming a beard was unsafe because oxygen masks would not fit snugly.
Johan
Oct 26, 2010, 11:58 am
#8
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While I think the judges comments were out of line, how is this any different than a company requiring men to have short hair?
There is an amusment park by me that a lot of friends worked at during college, and while I am not sure if they still have this policy, in the late 80s mens hair couldn't be longer than a certain length.
I am sure KLM doesn't allow their male crew to have hair that goes past their shoulders but doesn't have a problem with their female crew having long hair.
How is a minimum hair length for women any different than a max hair lenth for men?
There is an amusment park by me that a lot of friends worked at during college, and while I am not sure if they still have this policy, in the late 80s mens hair couldn't be longer than a certain length.
I am sure KLM doesn't allow their male crew to have hair that goes past their shoulders but doesn't have a problem with their female crew having long hair.
How is a minimum hair length for women any different than a max hair lenth for men?
Oct 26, 2010, 12:43 pm
#9
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^ +1
It's no different. And if the OP's post had been about a male steward getting the sack for having long hair, then that would be just as wrong.
It's no different. And if the OP's post had been about a male steward getting the sack for having long hair, then that would be just as wrong.
Oct 26, 2010, 2:00 pm
#10
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I suppose one important factor is that the company did not have any problem with the short/no hair before and afterwards they did.
Her solution of wearing a wig apparently did not appeal to KLM.
Her solution of wearing a wig apparently did not appeal to KLM.
Oct 27, 2010, 11:38 am
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Oct 28, 2010, 7:31 pm
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Actually according to the article is was 8mm. Two millimeters too short.
I agree in principe, but KL has rules about this and this stewardess did not comply with those. It's not exactly random. I wonder if she couldn't just grow her hair the two extra millimeters. (Or more accurately, since that happens in a week anyway, not have it cut the two extra millimeters.)
As long as she does her job properly and isn't scruffy and or unwashed then there is no problem.
Last edited by CyBeR; Oct 28, 2010 at 7:32 pm Reason: this forum needs more useful tag parsing.
