UPS relaxes restrictions on natural black hairstyles

United Parcel Service employees are now free to wear afros, braids, cornrows and other natural hairstyles, traditionally worn by black Americans, in the workplace. The changes also include the elimination of gender-specific rules and the authorization of “professional” piercings.

UPS announced its new internal policy on Tuesday, telling employees that beards as well as natural black hairstyles are welcome at the shipping company, a spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch. UPS said it was relaxing previous restrictions on the appearance of workers because it wanted them to feel more comfortable when interacting with customers. The change applies to all of the company’s 528,000 employees worldwide, including delivery drivers.

“Our updates enable a wider range of hair styles, facial hair and other personal appearance preferences, and are another example of our people-led strategy to make UPS a place to work. even better, ”the company said in a statement.

Other US companies have officially updated their policies for more inclusive hairstyles, including Hyatt and OneUnited Bank. Yet many workplaces still engage in explicit or more subtle forms of discrimination based on hair, report black Americans.

A 2019 survey of 2,000 American women aged 25 to 64, sponsored by the Unilever Dove brand, found that black women are 1.5 times more likely to be fired from work to home because of their hair. The survey also found that black women polled were 80% more likely to change their natural hair to suit work. Black women are less likely to get a job interview if they wear their hair in a curly afro or braids, according to a study from Duke University.

Wearing natural hairstyles has hurt black Americans in other areas. In 2018, a high school student from New Jersey was forced to cut her dreadlocks to participate in a wrestling match. Last year, an 11-year-old Colorado cheerleader was cut from a private support team because she didn’t wear her hair in a ponytail like her white and Latin teammates. And two high school students from Texas were suspended from school earlier this year because they refused to cut their dreadlocks.

These and dozens of other hair related incidents led to the passing of laws California, New York and New Jersey which prohibit racial discrimination, which includes discrimination based on hairstyles.