Can I file a lawsuit against a company for not hiring me due to a facial piercing?
Question Details:I have a couple visible tattoos and one facial piercing. I had an interview on Friday, and was hired on the spot. The managers informed me that they really liked me and that I would be a great fit in their company. My tattoos were showing but I hid my piercing. I went back today to fill out paperwork and didn't hide my piercing. I was told that if it had been seen prior, I would not have been hired. I informed them that I could remove it at any time. He treated me very rudely and told me I was no longer hired because I wouldn't work out. Do I have a lawsuit?
No, you do not have a lawsuit. Employment is employment at will--so long as they are not discriminating on one of a handful of specifically protected bases, employers are free to decide whom to hire, and also to fire employees at will, for any reason. The main protected classes or categories are race, religion, age over 40, disability, and sex; neither federal nor state law protects facial piercings, which means that employers may freely decide to not hire somone with piercings, or to fire someone already hired who has or gets such piercings.
Attorney Quick Finder
Top Ranking Attorneys
- Tricia Dwyer 180 Answers | Points 3500 Silver Contributor
- Nathan Wagner 32 Answers | Points 1580 Bronze Contributor
- Victor Waid 522 Answers | Points 1400 Platinum Contributor
- Harun Kazmi 160 Answers | Points 680 Silver Contributor
- Stan Helinski 20 Answers | Points 650 Bronze Contributor
- Maury Beaulier 9 Answers | Points 400
- Kevin Bessant 741 Answers | Points 37030 Platinum Contributor
- Hong Shen 562 Answers | Points 28100 Platinum Contributor
- Catherine Blackburn 566 Answers | Points 27770 Platinum Contributor
- Victor Waid 522 Answers | Points 26060 Platinum Contributor
- Cameron Norris, Esq. 416 Answers | Points 20550 Gold Contributor
- Anne Brady 228 Answers | Points 11400 Gold Contributor