Publix already allows beards at its new GreenWise markets and it has been successful, so why not implement this new dress code policy in the overwhelming majority of its business?

Here in Portland, Oregon you can't throw a stone without hitting a tattoo parlor. We have police, doctors and lawyers with visible tattoos all over their arms, even their necks, and who knows where else. But at My Goods Market -- a convenience store/gas station chain with hundreds of locations in Washington, Oregon, California and Colorado -- we are told that if we don't cover our visible tattoos there will be consequences. We could even lose our jobs because we don't want to put on a long sleeve shirt year round. It gets hot enough wearing long sleeves while working, but for those of us in states like Oregon where the gas pump is contingent on a service rep, employees will overheat in long sleeves while running in and out of the store during the hot summer months. Portland is an art-centric and EXTREMELY tattoo friendly city. Why would this be even remotely acceptable?. We need to fix this. It's 2015: I have met grandparents who have full sleeves. Tattoos are no longer indicative of negative elements of society. They are an expression of personal taste or an homage to something you care about. No one should be able to censor your body or how you choose to adorn it. That's why major national chains like Starbucks have recently changed their policies to allow visible tattoos at work. Please join me in asking My Goods Market to change its policy to allow visible tattoos at work.

The Starbucks mission statement is: "Our mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time." Starbucks is place where partners are unique and should be able to show their true selves. How are they going to do it if they can't color their hair how they want? Sometimes color shows the person's true self. Allowing tattoos and nose piercings was a good first step but now let's allow unnatural hair color. Variety in a workplace is always great! Wouldn't you want to have some red, purple, green, or maybe pink in your hair?

As a young child I wanted to have pink hair and was never able to due to my parents disapproval of an unnatural hair color. Once I was on my own I thought I would finally be able to go through with it. I soon found out that finding a job in which I could actually have pink hair was almost impossible. I now have my pink hair and I love it. However I have to wear an itchy wig to cover it up. I love my job and I love my regulars. I come by on my days off and people always compliment my "cotton candy" hair; it's something that makes me who I am and think I should be allowed to be that person always.

The employees and customers want to see that Jimmy stands by his "Rockstars wanted!" statements. Rockstars stand out in a crowd and show enthusiasm constantly. Shouldn't unique hair, style or vibrant coloring, be a good thing for a business that wants to stand out and attract a variety of different customers? Letting employees at Jimmy johns express who they really are leads to better attitudes and enthusiasm for their jobs. Which leads to a contagious happiness for our customers. Therefore gaining yet another returning customer purely on satisfaction alone. With the speed and diversity among the staff we mark a strong memory in their minds that will create a frequent customer base.

Having to adhere to the dress code rules of not being able to show our ink is an outdated practice as Kristie Williams as proven with the mass amount of signatures on her campaign to get Starbucks to revise its dress code policies. Just as in the petition to Starbucks to change its dress code to allow visible tattoos, we should be able to show ours as well. We work hard for this company. We are supposed to make all sandwiches in under 30 seconds through anytime of the day, and keep a good attitude the whole time we do it. Letting us express our individuality isn't really much to ask for -- especially since we're supposed to be these "Rockstar" employees. When I first started working for Jimmy John's, you had to wear white socks that covered your ankle. This was in the dress code. I can't fathom why the color or length of my socks are detrimental to making sandwiches. It's the same with this outdated policy to keep tattoos covered up. Jimmy Johns eventually changed its policy on socks, and I really do believe that this company can be swayed to revise its policy on this issue as well. Just as the white socks really didn't matter, neither does having us keep our tattoos covered up. Jimmy Johns is really an impressive business model. Fresh veggies, freshly sliced meat, great bread baked all day, small delivery areas for faster deliveries, and first and foremost, FAST service. I think it's time to let employees unleash our inner "Rockstar" and let us not have to cover up our tattoos. It's 2014, no one really cares when they go into a quick service restaurant and the people working behind the counter have some ink -- plus it will make our work a lot more comfortable, efficient and pleasant. LET'S MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER AND REVISE THESE OUTDATED RULES! (BIG thanks to Kristie Williams for inspiring this!)

We shouldn't have to change who we are just for a job that we need to make ends meet. We are in a new generation now filled with many people freely expressing themselves in different ways and work places shouldn't have rules that wont allow us to freely express ourselves.

I can't tell you how many times I have pumped a syrup of some type DOWN MY SHIRT SLEEVE on accident... Long sleeves GET IN THE WAY!!! We work HARD to keep creating inspired moments in our customers day. We want to be comfortable!! Especially in the hot summer months but working in general in long sleeves is a pain! Please let us get rid of our sloppy, syrup covered sleeves! We wash our hands to keep them clean, but what about those long sleeves getting frap roasted all summer long? ON THE STARBUCKS WEBSITE IT SAYS: "Our Partners... We’re called partners, because it’s not just a job, it’s our passion. Together, we embrace diversity to create a place where each of us can be ourselves. We always treat each other with respect and dignity. And we hold each other to that standard." A PLACE WHERE EACH OF US CAN BE OURSELVES. I KNOW our efficiency will IMPROVE with shorter sleeves.

It is important to allowed beanies in the Meat Department because of how cold it is. Associates from other departments cannot step in the Meat room without rushing to get out. Meat Cutters are in that environment their entire shift. We're cutting under a blowing fan that maintains the temperature of the department. Which in fact, causes constant runny nose which also leads to a pause mid-production at least 3-4 times every hour. An article published Jan 31, 2022 by Times Of India states the following: "When your scalp is exposed to the cold weather, you lose more heat from the body and you are at a greater risk of cold and flu. Keeping your scalp warm is as important as keeping your body warm." Hopefully you can now understand how important it is for the health of your associates.

Because if you’re like me it’s time to be heard, it’s time for Starbucks to realize how many other food establishments that allow nails and fingernail polish. It’s time for Starbucks to see what they have taken from me and others … as I stated before it’s a part of who I am how I identify myself…

Comfort and equality

This is important because allowing employees to express themselves more freely and have more lenient personal appearance policies will make employees much more happy to work at Publix overall and won't feel so controlled over every aspect of their appearance. Not only is it sexist for men being unable to wear earrings, it is unfair for employees to have tattoos but if you have gauges you need to put in flesh/skin tone. Also, why does it matter so much for employees to not have facial/a lot of jewelry/dyed hair anyhow? If the excuse is that "If you do that to yourself, you're not professional", this company is mistaken. Appearance has nothing to do with being professional, unless we are talking on terms on cleanliness and things of that nature. Personally, it is difficult to remember to change my gauges for work because it's such a small portion of my appearance it is easy to look over. But that's not exactly what all this is about. In conclusion, there are many aspects of appearance that this company focuses on, when that focus should be applied elsewhere, because as employees we already feel controlled enough as it is.