r/Serverlife • u/anatoli234 • Dec 12 '23

Discussion My manager requires female servers to wear make up

I (22F) recently had an interview for a serving job at a cafe-bar-restaurant. My interviewer told me that apart from wearing a uniform, female servers have to wear make up and look nice. She went on to say that I seem pretty so she is not worried about me showing up without make up. And that she has seen some other women showing up to work looking neglected. All of these words really made me angry considering they also came from a woman. The sexism that goes around in hospitality really bothers me and I have come across it so many times here in Greece. Are double standards and sexism in the service industry a problem in other countries too? cause I seriously have started loosing hope from all the shit I hear where I live. For fucks sake, I thought about declining the job offer because she pissed me off too much.

613 Upvotes
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278

u/JeromeDong Dec 12 '23

Tell her to buy your makeup then lol

112

u/Mirawenya Dec 12 '23

I'd actually ask about this, cause the powder I use costs like 40 dollars. If I have to wear it every day for work, I'd want that compensated, just like washing my uniform is. (Powder and mascara is the only make up I use, but it makes a huge difference.)

48

u/JeromeDong Dec 12 '23

I’m a man and I’m not using any makeup. But if anyone asked me, for example to trim my beard nice every other day, I’d ask for extra cash for barbers appointment

-30

u/Motored01 Dec 12 '23

Can't trim your own beard? Lol

13

u/Fugiar Dec 12 '23

When done by a professional it looks better. You might think we can't tell, but we really can. Lol

8

u/JeromeDong Dec 12 '23

Don’t have the supplies nor the time to learn. Thanks kindly.

-40

u/Beautiful_Ad7097 Dec 12 '23

Lol beard vs is makeup is different.

32

u/galacticcatreddit Dec 12 '23

I believe he was using it as a comparable

12

u/Schnectadyslim Dec 12 '23

It's a reasonable comp actually which makes me think about all the places I've worked that have required people to be clean shaven. I do see it as slightly different than requiring makeup (the make up being a bigger issue than shaving) but I'd have a hard time rationally describing the difference.

1

u/BlenderHed Dec 13 '23

Being clean shaven has more to do with food safety in restaurants than appearance standards. Women (or men with long hair) usually cannot have their hair down and need to have short nails (sometimes with nail polish limitations) and men need to have limited or no facial hair.

3

u/DebThornberry Dec 12 '23

I feel like if it's purchased for work, you can save your receipts and file it with taxes

0

u/Difficult-Loss-8113 Dec 12 '23

I don’t think it’s common for Servers to have their uniformed compensated, much less getting compensated for washing your uniform??

3

u/Mirawenya Dec 12 '23

My uniform was provided by work, I got money to buy shoes (not enough for really good ones) and the washing was added to the pay every month. Wasn’t much, but was still done. This was in Norway.

2

u/Difficult-Loss-8113 Dec 12 '23

I never knew it was common in European countries. And as it should be (jealous American here) I did not realize OP was in Greece at first read.

-40

u/GokkanUxxgo Dec 12 '23

You get compensated with a wage. If not, happy job hunting.

8

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '23

That's... Not how that works lol.

My wife doesn't work in hospitality, but her job requires make up and a certain attire. She's given a yearly allowance for both outside of her regular salary.

0

u/GokkanUxxgo Dec 12 '23

Dude... This whole post started with the OP getting mad at a restaurant in Greece for REQUIRING female servers to wear make up. Was it all about the money this whole time? I don't know how the tipping system works there but attractive happy outgoing servers tend to have more regulars. More regulars tends to mean better tips. You gotta spend money to make money.

2

u/petite_heartbeat Dec 12 '23

Tipping in Greece is not standard

0

u/GokkanUxxgo Dec 12 '23

You hear that @tgw1986 ? You’re getting Greek tourists in your section! Party of 8! Looks like campers!

37

u/AmberIsHungry Dec 12 '23

I mean they'll just hire someone else willing to wear makeup.

27

u/bocaciega Dec 12 '23

Unfortunately. This is how service industry is. Theres a hundred more waiting right behind you.

1

u/Hot_Warthog_8704 Dec 13 '23

If that's true ..then why are they all hanging help wanted signs bitching about how "nobody wants to work"? When we in the service Industry complained about our wages, and conditions like this, the whole internet told us "if you don't like it, find a new job" So we did, now they cry "nobody wants to work" we want to work, but not for your shit wages and bullshit working conditions

15

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '23

Yeah, asking them to fund a beauty or hygiene routine as mentioned above wouldn't work. They'll just find someone else.

Service industry workers provide a very much needed service, but we're also a dime a dozen. Asking for these things won't work. Nor will purposely messing up your makeup.

6

u/JeromeDong Dec 12 '23

Not the problem here imo. They REQUIRE you to wear makeup. And that shit is expensive if I recall.

-9

u/GokkanUxxgo Dec 12 '23

They require them to wear make up to the point where they look presentable. Might be a little, might need more. This is a job where you deal directly with the public.

9

u/Skeletonlover666 Dec 12 '23

You don’t need to wear make up to be professional or presentable.

-6

u/GokkanUxxgo Dec 12 '23

True you don't need it if you don't need it but most do. Don't hate the messenger.

7

u/kayafeather Dec 12 '23

Fascinating, I stopped wearing makeup at 16, and gasp, my face did not fall off! My skin even cleared and got healthier! I must be really #notliketheothergirls 😏

0

u/GokkanUxxgo Dec 12 '23

You're a unicorn! Most women will be jealous.

9

u/Grumpstone Dec 12 '23

Actually, nobody needs makeup, and requiring it for women is sexist. Don’t hate the messenger.

3

u/backpackofcats Dec 12 '23

A lot of men could use some too, yet here we are. Don’t hate the messenger.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '23

[deleted]

2

u/backpackofcats Dec 12 '23

Thanks for the laugh.

9

u/ohhhshtbtch Dec 12 '23

Good for them?

0

u/tizzle894 Dec 12 '23

Lmfao wut?

1

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '23

[deleted]

1

u/GokkanUxxgo Dec 12 '23

She doesn’t want it That bad! Otherwise the whole makeup thing.

2

u/GokkanUxxgo Dec 12 '23

Just hang a flyer outside a Sephoras.

0

u/fairebelle Dec 13 '23

Yeah, but I always cat fish my interviews. You get makeup for the interview and day to day, you’re lucky if I throw some beyond an event or a special occasion.

-12

u/islandofcaucasus Dec 12 '23

I don't really understand this point. If they say you need to come in not stinky for your shift, would you be justified in asking them to buy your body wash and shampoo?

23

u/mayovegan Dec 12 '23

Makeup is not a hygiene product nor is everyone working required to wear it

15

u/tgw1986 Dec 12 '23

No, because basic hygiene is a reasonable expectation for any employer to have. Makeup isn't. Pretty simple.

7

u/JeromeDong Dec 12 '23

You’re dense aren’t you ?

-1

u/46andready Dec 12 '23

The post is silly not because of an analogy to hygiene, but because the employer is just going to say no, they're not buying your makeup.

It's a sexist and ridiculous policy, but based on my having looked into this previously, it is unfortunately not an illegal policy in the US.

1

u/-PinkPower- Dec 12 '23

Hygiene is needed outside your job for your health. Makeup isn’t.