Long fingernails and polish, which clearly pose food-safety hazards, are touchy issues, Baehr says. It's very important when we hire people to explain the nature of the job and why we have grooming standards. For many people, the first exposure to foodservice jobs comes in the quick-service sector, where uniforms are the norm and appearance standards are clearly spelled out. Hair must be neat and clean, away from the face and properly restrained. The only jewelry allowed is a wedding or engagement ring and one earring per ear.
Most chains live up to their reputation for standardized systems when it comes to appearance codes.
In addition, FitzGerald says, society has become more tolerant of self-expression. Today, it's much more common for people to attempt to look different. Uniforms consist of company-supplied ties and aprons over white shirts and black pants. In some workers' and operators' opinions, yes. But appearance codes are rarely a problem for those who are upfront during the interview process, notes FitzGerald.