Body markings might not always be a direct manifestation of religiosity. However, for many people body markings are spiritual markers. You might see a male deer, a square, or even a word, but these represent something deeper to the individuals that bear them. The male deer symbolizes grace and spiritual enlightenment, a square representing strength and security, the letters they bear could be a name of a loved one. These body markings show how younger generations express themselves beyond skin deep and taking the time to understand them can expand the way we view and interact with individuals on a more personal level.

I believe people should join in because it is about freedom of expression. There are many people who have tattoos and colored hair so why not nails. I took a week off from work and was able to finally get nails. I realized that I missed having this part of me throughout the past two years. I felt very confident and I wish I was able to take that to my workplace. Having the freedom to wear nails fulfilled my need for creativity that allows human beings to grow and to represent who they are as an individual.

Hair color is a way to show healthy individuality among people, especially young people. We are in a day and age where almost everyone coming into our stores have unnatural hair color. Unnatural hair colors is no longer a distraction and should be allowed in the work place. Allowing dyed hair could also improve your employees mood and mental health. Being restricted in this way can leave young adults feeling depressed, reminding them of strict schools they most likely detested. We should keep our company's dress codes updated with the times. Not allowing unnatural hair color is very outdated and needs to be retired.

The primary concern I have with the tattoo policy is the possibility of overheating. When working at a car wash like Tidal Wave one spends the vast majority of their day outside in the hot sun. I personally have had multiple instances where I was simply too hot to continue working and had to take a break to cool down. I love this company and the services we provide, but I believe this change needs to be made for the safety of our employees.

They make less than a server and do all the servers work for them. It’s not equal pay. And can’t live off 2.83 an hour.

These “policies” are sexist and out of date. Publix is losing good employees based on store manager preference. By leaving it up to managers, that leaves room for discrimination. Publix already allows long hair at its Greenwise Markets as well as some stores in Charlotte. Let’s make the hair policy gender neutral!

Recently Whole Foods workers have been sent home for wearing Black Lives Matter paraphernalia at work, on the grounds that they are somehow controversial. Respectfully, we beg to differ. As an Amazon employee, and a Black American descendant of enslaved peoples in this country, I must say, that anyone who believes that the words Black Lives Matter, are controversial suffers from an unfortunate delusional state induced by years of conditioning in white supremacist ideology. Workers should not be forced to choose between earning a living, and asserting that the lives of other human beings have value. Whole Foods is wholly wrong to have ever enforced this policy. Nothing short of a full throated apology and a sincere commitment to sit down, shut up, and LISTEN to us, will do at this point. This is not a request. It is a demand. Words have meaning, and you can't claim to be in solidarity with the Black community, and then show the reckless indifference to Black and Latinx lives that Amazon is demonstrating currently. While you're here sign our petition to shut down DSF4 for deep cleaning. We've had 3 confirmed cases of COVID 19 reported in the last month and management is lax about enforcing social distancing unless it's to get rid of an organizers like Hibaq Mohamed or myself. Workers should not be retaliated against for speaking up for the safety of themselves and their colleagues. Standing in solidarity in the fight against systemic racism and injustice means being willing to say that Black Lives Matter AND act on that truth by treating Black employees with the dignity and respect that we deserve.

We are outraged over LA’s BEST’s decision to embolden bigotry and terminate Edwin Medina’s employment after 16 years of dedicated service. LA’s BEST fired an exceptional leader because he dressed in drag to our end-of-year Zoom costume meeting on June 12. Edwin’s termination completely contradicts OUR organizations’ values of “sparking curiosity, expanding horizons, and strengthening relationships”. This is especially unacceptable and inexcusable given the context: It is Pride month, and we are in the middle of a new wave of the Civil Rights movement. We have suffered loss, financial stress, and social isolation due to COVID19. LA’s BEST is in the middle of a budget crisis and making cuts where you can to the detriment of our organization’s values and mission. Pride, Drag, & Bad Bunny It was a “meaningful choice” for Edwin to show his PRIDE, especially when LA’s BEST has been startingly quiet on the social issues of the moment. Edwin dressed up in drag as Bad Bunny in “Yo Perreo Sola”. This music video was released March 27, and featured Bad Bunny in drag. Billboard describes the music video, and Bad Bunny’s drag, as “visually eye-opening (and) conscientious, talking about respect for women and highlighting the LGBTQ+ community, a departure for Latin urban music”. By removing one word from LA’s BEST’s BLM statement, the hypocrisy becomes clear: “Through our afterschool enrichment program, we strive to combat the disparities created by oppressive and systemic … inequities and work to prepare our students and staff to become changemakers in our communities. We are all deeply connected to each other, and we remain committed to strengthening those connections through compassionate, positive youth development.” That starts with how you treat your employees. “Drag” is borderline synonymous with “queer”, and we regret that our unnamed colleague and LA’s BEST decided to punish Edwin’s personal expression with termination. During this historical moment, the Supreme Court has ruled that an employer cannot fire someone for being homosexual or transgender. Gender identity and expression should now be protected in the workplace. Edwin Medina should not have been terminated. Leadership Edwin was a stellar leader at LA’s BEST. He did much of the “dirty work” during the COVID19 crisis, discussing budget cuts with us, giving reassurance, and helping us navigate the shift to distance learning. Moreover, relationships were Edwin’s specialty - with his staff and with our kids. He offered us guidance, and as his staff, we always knew we could go to Edwin. He supported us through short staffed days, taking on groups of his own. He advocated for our professional and personal development. Edwin Medina was one of the BEST advocates and leaders among us. Edwin was comfortable being himself, and he empowered us - adults and youth - “to explore and discover the opportunities in (our) lives”. He “inspired and prepared (us) to create lives full of choices”, and you fired him for his choice to wear drag to a costume party. Unfortunately, many of us do not feel safe at LA’s BEST anymore. We believe the actions of our unnamed colleague and of LA’s BEST are rooted in ignorance and bigotry. We do not feel comfortable working in an organization that emboldens ignorance. We especially share concern for the youth we work with, many of whom are or will be members of the LGBTQ+ community. Hate and discrimination do not belong in this organization.

On or around Friday, June 19th, 2020, postings went up at Metro stating that masks with the words “I AM ESSENTIAL, NOT SACRIFICIAL” were political statements and not allowed to be worn while an employee was on paid time. Metro Management initially restricted drivers from wearing any masks at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in March; Deputy Manager Crystal Martin suggested that masks were ineffective and did not need to be worn at a meeting with employees. City services were shut down or went remote, but Transit Operators were required to continue working with the public without sufficient protections or hazard pay. When masks were finally allowed, Metro workers began circulating these masks with our Teamster union emblem and the phrase “I AM ESSENTIAL, NOT SACRIFICIAL” along with Teamsters at numerous other employers across the country, public and private. This is protected concerted activity under Wisconsin 111.70(2) RIGHTS OF MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, “Municipal employees have the right of self-organization, and the right to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in lawful, concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.” Teachers and other public servants have acted collectively, wearing buttons and other literature for their mutual aid and protection, upheld consistently by the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission and the courts. Metro workers have had to push consistently for safe working conditions and respect, through lock down and now as the City reopens - WE ARE ESSENTIAL, NOT SACRIFICIAL.

This is important to us because if we were allowed to wear shorts while working in higher temperatures, we would be less likely to overheat, which would, therefore, allow us to become more productive. Most of the employees work in warehouses that do not have A/C or are delivery drivers who are in the heat all day. It is important for us to stay cool and presentable while we work so that we can promote a healthy company image, one that Sherwin-Williams can continue to be proud of. We are required to look professional to uphold this image, and we think that khaki shorts would suffice, still meeting the professional attire requirements.

It is to protect both the employees and the customers from potentially catching anything and it keeps everyone safe. The workers should not have to be put at more risk just because a customer does not want to wear a mask.

Most of the employees at Cinemark are young; either in high school or college. This is a critical point in life to experiment with your appearance, but Cinemark is very conservative and allows no such thing. Many have meaningful tattoos and have to cover them up with a long sleeve shirts under their work shirt. In many cases, this makes them sweaty and tired from the extra heat, and oil and drinks splash onto the sleeves, leaving them wet. As for creative hair, more and more employers are realizing you can be professional with green or pink hair. The attitude matters, not the hair. Dress code itself is also limiting, only allowing an entirely black wardrobe down to the socks, often requiring employees to spend a decent amount of money on clothing they will only wear at work, including shoes. Freedom of expression will make employees happier and more productive at work, resulting in everyone being more satisfied all around.