TV Boss Might Force Hockey Players To Shave
By Amy E. Feldman
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Can your boss make you shave your beard?
NBC Sports chairman Mark Lazarus made headlines when he said that he wished that hockey players would stop growing out their facial hair in the post season because as a television guy, he would like players to be more telegenic so that, according to him, tv could play up how young and attractive they are. A sentiment with which, those of us who prefer to watch movie-star-looking athletes than mountain men, can't really disagree despite the fact that it kinda borders on creepy.
But, since he is in charge of the company that pays $400 million in tv rights and has begun lobbying the players association and officials it's hard to ignore.
We know that company dress codes are legal; but does a boss have the right to tell you to shave facial hair? Isn't that more personal than they have the right to dictate?
Nope.
Unless your beard is for a religious observance, a grooming policy that prohibits facial hair is perfectly legal. That said, I wouldn't want to face a clean shaven but angry - albeit very handsome - hockey player.