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babylonsister

(171,096 posts) Mon Jun 17, 2013, 08:19 PM Jun 2013

Sister who shaved head in solidarity told to wear wig at work

This so sucks.

Sister who shaved head in solidarity told to wear wig at work
Eun Kyung Kim TODAY

"My sister and I have been best friends for as long as I can remember,” Strandberg told TODAY. “We’ve done everything together."

That includes fighting cancer.

Last year, at age 23, Lowe battled stage-three ovarian cancer. Big sister Strandberg, who had just beaten cervical cancer, shaved her head as a sign of solidarity for her balding sibling, who was losing her hair from chemotherapy.

“It meant more than, I think, she even knows,” Lowe said in the segment that aired Monday.

Two weeks ago, when the sisters learned that Lowe’s cancer had returned, Strandberg knew what she had to do.

“They told her chemo, and I found my clippers,” she said.

But this time, Strandberg, a hair stylist at a Spokane, Wash., salon, said work reacted differently to her decision. She said supervisors asked her to wear a wig, claiming that she couldn’t market hair products without hair — and that her baldness might make clients uncomfortable.

Strandberg said she had no choice but quit her job.

more...

http://www.today.com/news/sister-who-shaved-head-solidarity-told-wear-wig-work-6C10345060

10 replies

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Highlight:

Sister who shaved head in solidarity told to wear wig at work (Original Post) babylonsister Jun 2013 OP

No, don't quit your job, and if they fire you sue them still_one Jun 2013 #1

Yep. Scuba Jun 2013 #3

Sue them for what? I mean...what grounds? Honeycombe8 Jun 2013 #7

I caught this story inadvertently and unwillingly at my laundromat this morning NV Whino Jun 2013 #2

+1 Scuba Jun 2013 #4

That salon should be in contention for "Worst Boss of the Year". blue neen Jun 2013 #5

I hope all of her clients follow her to Ilsa Jun 2013 #6

in reading the article, the casino seems to be backing down, or, at least, trying to put a good niyad Jun 2013 #8

What sort of idiot fires somebody over this? mythology Jun 2013 #9

Isn't the big shot at Pantene bald? KentuckyWoman Jun 2013 #10

still_one

(92,432 posts)

1. No, don't quit your job, and if they fire you sue them

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Mon Jun 17, 2013, 08:22 PM

Jun 2013

Scuba

(53,475 posts)

3. Yep.

Reply to still_one (Reply #1)

Mon Jun 17, 2013, 08:25 PM

Jun 2013

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)

7. Sue them for what? I mean...what grounds?

Reply to still_one (Reply #1)

Mon Jun 17, 2013, 09:00 PM

Jun 2013

Unless she signed an employment agreement that gives her certain rights, or unless she belongs to a union, her employer can fire her "for cause" for just about any reason, except violating the federal guarantees of non-discrimination in employment.

We can be fired for not dressing a certain way, not looking a certain way, being 5 minutes late, or just because. It's the same for employers as it is for employees, only flipped. We can quit for any reason, unless we signed an employment agreement or belong to a union that has given the employer some rights in that regard.

It's because of her unique job...she works in a hair salon..that makes her shaved head of special concern. Maybe if she would have agreed to wear a label explaining her shaved head? But I see their point...it'd be hard for her to push smooth & silky hair conditioner, if she's bald. The business thought it would cost them money. It wouldn't cost MY employer money, so even tho it's a professional office, they might go along with it. But I'm not sure.

NV Whino

(20,886 posts)

2. I caught this story inadvertently and unwillingly at my laundromat this morning

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Mon Jun 17, 2013, 08:24 PM

Jun 2013

I hate the fucking TVs at my laundromat. I hate my laundromat, but I digress.

The smart thing for the salon to have done, would have been to ask all their operators if they would shave in solidarity. Great PR for the salon.

Scuba

(53,475 posts)

4. +1

Reply to NV Whino (Reply #2)

Mon Jun 17, 2013, 08:25 PM

Jun 2013

blue neen

(12,328 posts)

5. That salon should be in contention for "Worst Boss of the Year".

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Mon Jun 17, 2013, 08:33 PM

Jun 2013

How cruel!

Ilsa

(61,698 posts)

6. I hope all of her clients follow her to

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Mon Jun 17, 2013, 08:41 PM

Jun 2013

a new, compassionate salon.

niyad

(113,587 posts)

8. in reading the article, the casino seems to be backing down, or, at least, trying to put a good

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Mon Jun 17, 2013, 10:12 PM

Jun 2013

spin on it.

I really don't see a problem. here, a number of people participate in st. baldrick's day (mar 17) shaving their heads in support of cancer survivors. and, many of them then wear a button that reads "ask me why I am bald". simple, yes?

mythology

(9,527 posts)

9. What sort of idiot fires somebody over this?

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Mon Jun 17, 2013, 10:36 PM

Jun 2013

Or more accurately I suppose, pushes somebody into quitting over this. Even if you think it's unattractive, given the circumstances, couldn't the boss just get over it?

KentuckyWoman

(6,697 posts)

10. Isn't the big shot at Pantene bald?

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Mon Jun 17, 2013, 10:57 PM

Jun 2013

the boss people at this salon are flaming idiot.

Down my way the local hair place raffled off chances to shave the heads of nearly every teacher in town to raise money for a local mom of 5 with cancer. AND gave out free hair goop to anyone who signed the pledge to grow hair for cancer wigs.

Was the right thing to do AND good business.

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