The goal is to give male-identifying and female-identifying employees more uniform standards, … [+]
United Airlines
United Airlines is preparing to roll out new appearance standards for customer-facing employees like gate agents and flight attendants that allow for greater gender expression and personal style.
The changes target four specific areas: Tattoos, hair-length, makeup and nail polish, and these new rules apply to employees regardless of gender.
Flight Attendants for United Airlines
United AIrlines
“As the face of United, our customer-facing teammates can provide an even better experience for our customers when they look and feel their best,” said Kate Gebo, executive vice president of the airline’s department of human resources and labor relations, in a statement shared with employees in June.
“We’ve spent the last several years listening to the feedback we’ve received from our employees and our Business Resource Groups to develop these revised standards, said Gebo. “We’re confident that these modernized and more gender-inclusive appearance standards will provide a more authentic representation of the people and cultures that make United the company it is today.”
Just two months ago, the American Civil Liberties Union told Alaska Airlines that its uniform policy violated state and federal law against sex discrimination, by requiring nonbinary employees like Justin Wetherell, a flight attendant and flight-attendant instructor, to wear a male uniform when interacting with passengers.
Justin Wetherell is nonbinary and works as a flight attendant and flight attendant instructor at … [+]
ACLU
Wetherell identifies as nonbinary. In June, they told Forbes.com in a statement, “I don’t want to be forced into a binary uniform that excludes me and leads to me being misgendered at work.”
At last report, Wetherell’s case had not been resolved. Although the new appearance standards at United Airlines do not impact uniforms, they do give both male-identified and female-identified employees who interact with passengers more freedom of expression.
Tattoos
United’s existing appearance standards clearly state, “Tattoos must never be visible while in uniform.” These rules apply to all employees whose work involves interacting with airline customers face to face.
United gate agent with an arm tattoo checks boarding pass of passenger before boarding.
United Airlines
According to journalist Jay Singh at Simple Flying, visible tattoos can be displayed by customer-facing uniformed employees starting Sept. 1. Of course, there are limits: all tattoos must be smaller than the size of a work badge and cannot contain obscene or imagery or wording that could be construed as offensive, such as swear words, and no more than one per arm. Tattoos are not permitted on any employee’s face, neck, or hands.
Hair Length
Previously, United told flight attendants and gate agents that “hair longer than shoulder length must be secured up in a bun, twist or pony tail during meal services.”
A United Airlines employee wears his hair tied back and down in a style that is shoulder-length,
United Airlines
Singh reports all customer-facing uniformed employees now can wear their hair down regardless of their gender, starting Sept. 1. The only restriction is that their hair must be at shoulder length or shorter, and must still be kept “neat and tidy.”
Makeup
As with nails, makeup has been prohibited for male employees. With the new changes going into effect next month, all employees will be allowed to put on makeup. The restriction is that employees must wear only natural-looking makeup, and according to Singh, it must meet “United’s professional standards.”
An employee of United Airlines wears makeup on his eyes and lips in accordance with new appearance … [+]
United Airlines
Nail Polish
At the moment, the rules say “male flight attendants may not wear nail color.” But starting next month, male-identifying employees will be permitted to wear colored nail polish. No matter how they identify, employees will still need to wear nail polish that meets what Singh describes as “United’s professional appearance standards.”
An employee of United Airlines holds a cellphone in his hands. His nails are painted in accordance … [+]
United Airlines
As of press time, it’s unclear if other rules barring body piercings will be relaxed, as WGN-TV reported earlier this summer.
The airline provided Simple Flying with this new statement regarding the changes:
“At United, we believe we are all connected by the similarities we recognize and the differences we celebrate in each other. We’ve updated our appearance standards to empower our employees to represent themselves in the way they feel most confident. Our modernized appearance guidelines promote a supportive, encouraging, and positive environment for our employees and customers alike.“
