Cut it out: KC-area businesses should drop outdated rules on dreadlocks

Businesses are within their legal right to institute a grooming policy that requires employees to maintain hair in a professional manner. But it’s troubling that specific hairstyles are singled out simply because they do not conform to traditional standards.

Cool Crest Family Fun Center’s decision to deny 16-year-old Tyree Bayan a job at the Independence arcade because of the length of his dreadlocks was an error in judgment that should spur changes to narrowly-drawn, outmoded rules.

The locks, Tyree was told, were too thick and too long to adhere to an outdated company policy.

Tyree, a budding entrepreneur who has a 3.75 GPA at Grandview High School, believes he was rejected because of the dreadlocks that fall just past his shoulders.

Tyree’s been growing the well-maintained locks since he was 11.

“They’re a part of who I am,” he told The Star.

A 2016 ruling in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a company’s right to refuse to hire someone because he or she has dreadlocks.

Natalie Dunlap, a marketing vice president for Cool Crest’s parent company, Adventure Landing of Jacksonville, Fla., said the length of Tyree’s dreadlocks was a violation of corporate policy that requires hair over the ears and above the shirt collar.

The company, Dunlap said, does not discriminate against any particular hairstyle.

“That includes dreadlocks, Mohawks, etc., as long as they comply with policy,” she said.

Although conservative braids are allowed, Dunlap admits the company is behind the times when it comes to dreadlocks.

The privately-held company — and others with questionable dress codes — should consider adopting policies similar to those of Worlds of Fun, Dave & Buster’s and Main Event Entertainment. All allow dreadlocks of any length and have managed to ensure employees look professional while still complying with non-discriminatory dress codes.

Even the Marine Corps lifted its ban on dreadlocks and twist hairstyles in 2015, and the United States Army followed suit in 2017.

Worlds of Fun, a spokesman said, recognized the changing standards of appearance but still emphasized a professional and appropriate look for associates.

Company officials believe the changes will open jobs to a wider array of future associates.

Businesses can enforce grooming and appearance policies as they see fit. But Cool Crest could have given Tyree, a first-time job seeker, the option to address the length of his hair.

It’s time for companies such as Adventure Landing to recognize that an updated policy could help encourage diversity in the workplace and avoid the appearance of unfair treatment or double standards.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suggests a neutral grooming policy that requires a neat, clean and well-groomed coif no matter the hairstyle. Length should only be an issue for food safety or job-specific reasons.

In the interim, Cool Crest should allow industrious teens like Tyree an opportunity to show that they’re up to the job.

This story was originally published April 13, 2018 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Cut it out: KC-area businesses should drop outdated rules on dreadlocks."