Can we ask our employee to change the color of their bright pink hair to a more natural hue or tone down the color?

While changing hair color to a “crazy” color is increasingly popular, it isn’t always a protected practice in the workplace. Employers are still free to mandate that employees maintain a business-like appearance.

Nevertheless, a policy banning an unnatural hair color should take into consideration the job the employee is performing. If you have an employee working in a warehouse with no contact with the public, it might be acceptable for them to change their hair to a “crazy” color. However, if an employee is greeting the public and is the first person guests encounter, a more business-like appearance is a realistic requirement of the job.