Dicriminatory dress code. stopped from wearing hood when signing on DWP

[christopherlaw]

I have had a similar experience at edinburgh high riggs, but this is more complex. On the 8th dec 2014 i was asked by a security guard to take down the hood from my hooded top. I did but pointed out it was winter and a number of people were wearing hooded jackets and hats who were already in the building. The security guard insisted it was hoodies in particular. On the 16th of feb 2015 I go sign on again, this time a different security gaurd tells me I can not wear a hooded jacket; i tell him of my last experience, but this makes no difference. On entering the building i noticed an older man wearing a baseball cap so file a complaint. It is apparent that it is not the item of clothing you are wearing, but the demography of the population that the security gaurd decides yo fit into. I am a guy in his 30s, i tend to wear hoods in scotland not because I want to be affiliated with the hoody culture, but cause its cold here. I found the treatment humiliating and giving people preferential treatment like this is surely illegal

Edited February 16, 2015 by honeybee13
Putting back OP that he's deleted twice.

[christopherlaw]

I have had an experience at edinburgh high riggs jobcenter. On the 8th dec 2014 i was asked by a security guard to take down the hood from my hooded top. I did, but pointed out it was winter, and, a number of people were wearing hooded jackets and hats who were already in the building. The security guard insisted that it was hoodies in particular.

On the 16th of feb 2015 I go to sign on again, this time a different security guard tells me I can not wear a hooded jacket (after having witnessed hooded jackets being worn, and challenging this on the previous occasion); i tell him of my last experience, but this makes no difference. Once I entered the building I noticed an older man wearing a baseball cap so file a complaint.

As an excuse, when I went back to speak to the security guard about his discriminatory behavior, he told me base ball caps and beanie hats are allowed.

It is apparent that it is not the item of clothing you are wearing, but the demography of the population that the security guard decides you fit into. I am a guy in his 30s, i tend to wear hoods in Scotland not because I want to be affiliated with the hoody culture, but cause its cold here.

I found the treatment humiliating and giving people preferential treatment like this is surely illegal. We are used to door staffs egos running away with them on privately owned venues, now we cant even sign on without being degraded and harassed.

Appreciate feedback on this one

[honeybee13]

Threads merged, please don't start any more, Christopher.

 

HB

[id6052]

should there not be other options, such as: -

 

* not at all discriminatory

 

* sounds like a reasonable request

 

* not possible to tell without being there

[christopherlaw]

could very well be the case, id settle for finding a delete button at the moment so i can delete all my unwanted posts. honeybee merged my posts from another thread while i was creating this one for some reason. I know she is one of the team so i am trying to contact her to see if she can clarify whats happened.It is my first time using the forum

[honeybee13]

Hello Chris. Answering your PM, I'll try to tidy up your thread. I can't delete your first post because the whole thread will disappear. I'll do my best, please continue posting with questions about your problem while I do what I can.

 

HB

[honeybee13]

Thread tidied to a normal CAG format, please don't delete what is already here.

 

HB

[id6052]

i think some of these problems occur due to

* overzealous security guards

* the almost daily changing security alert levels in government buildings

[christopherlaw]

I dont understand that conclusion

[christopherlaw]

I don't really think it addresses the issues I am pointing out at all

[id6052]

personally, i would not be offended if i was asked to keep my hood down for the short period of time spent in the jobcentre, in the same way i would not offended if asked to do so in a bank, petrol station or shop/supermarket

 

i can understand having a hood up whilst outside in the cold or rain, but not inside a heated dry building

[christopherlaw]

sorry you maybe right about the overzealous security staff. I will be very offended if they try and hit me with an excuse like the second point you made though. it seems more complicated than the uks tax codes; Religious headware ok! jackets with hoods ok! (as long as I am not wearing one) caps ok! beenies ok! hoodies, not ok!)

[christopherlaw]

exactly you are not addressing the point. I cycle 6 miles to the jobcenter for one thing, more than can be said i bet for the women and elderly people that were in the building at the very time, with hats and hoods on

[christopherlaw]

its an issue of stereotyping and discrimination against a demographic group... a young male

[christopherlaw]

maybe you would not be offended because you are never asked to conform to these standards. Is this a common occurrence for you? i notice you use the phrase "if i"

Edited February 16, 2015 by christopherlaw
spelling, wonkey keyboard

[id6052]

if you believe you were being discriminated against on the basis of gender or age, then you should make a formal complaint to the JC manager

[id6052]

maybe you would not be offended because you are never asked to conform to these standards. Is this a common occurrence for you? i notice you use the phrase "if i"

 

the reason i used the words "if i was asked" is simply because I would automatically put my hood down when entering any such premises

[christopherlaw]

I have done id6052, thanks

[christopherlaw]

I have no problem conforming to a rule, as long as other people have to conform to the same rule. Imagine being in a public building full of people with hats and hoods on, and you get singled out; "drop the hood" he said, now see the problem. This has happened on more than one occasion

[christopherlaw]

it makes you wonder if discrimination is allowed to happen to you if you happen to be unfortunate enough to be in that demographic

[antone]

it makes you wonder if discrimination is allowed to happen to you if you happen to be unfortunate enough to be in that demographic

 

The Jobcentre may not discriminate against you on the grounds of gender, age, race, religion, sexuality or disability.

[oleg]

Or then again . . .

[tomtom256]

I was raised to take off any headwear when entering a building.

 

That being said hoodies have always been an issue because of it's association with gang culture/crime, hence probably why hats and normal jacket hoods are ok.

 

As you have raised it with the manager let them deal with it, seems a none issue to me.

[think about it]

Sorry Chris, absolute none issue. You were asked to comply with a published dress code. It doesn't matter what other people are doing as the guard(s) can't speak to everyone all at once (without then being accused of shouting). It's good manners if nothing else to remove headwear when you enter a building and there's nothing new about people's reticence around hooded tops. Go to any major shopping centre (Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow if you'd like an example) and you'll see exactly the same notices. Hooded sweatshirts are very different to religious headwear.

[Conniff]

The poll is discriminatory and biased, it only gives choices in the affirmative, where is the 'not at all' choice ?