Employee sent home w/o pay for not wearing pastel for Easter

tiffany_trice_venatore_com · April 2014

An office manager sent an employee home for not wearing pastel scrubs today in order to honor Easter. She didn't have any pastel colored scrubs and wasn't made aware that she could just wear a regular shirt and her lab coat over top of it. It was not communicated that it was mandatory to do so. She was told that "they take that sort of stuff very seriously around here" and was sent home without pay. She's a Non-Exempt employee. Is that legal?

sonny · April 2014

I don't know that it is illegal but with the information provided, it would be an incredibly stupid management practice.

jdarrough · April 2014

I'm with Sonny on that one. It may not be "legal" or "illegal" but her actions would certainly be defensible because she did not receive notice. She may have a wage claim and should contact her state's Dept. of Labor office.

bozeman · April 2014

I've heard it all. Information about dress code on Easter Day would be in the Employee Handbook with the other dress code requirements and whatever the Employee Handbook says would take precedence!?

FunHRBanker · May 2014

Wow. And what if this employee doesn't celebrate Easter? The whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I'm all for special occasion dress code things, but we always make them optional stating that if you choose not to wear x, you must wear regular business attire.

cnghr · May 2014

I agree. I can't imagine telling an employee that they have to abide by that sort of "dress code" when it involves a religious holiday that they may not celebrate.

dshipley · May 2014

Hang the manager by her thumbs.

Employee sent home w/o pay for not wearing pastel for Easter

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