Employers can choose to fear or embrace the beard

When it comes to employees and beards, business’ opinions will vary. Some employers have no issue with beards, while others ban them altogether.

Locally, Pizza Colin, Ellensburg McDonald’s and the SURC all have different policies regarding employees’ beards.

Owner of Pizza Colin, Colin Lamb, has a lenient policy on facial hair. However, he said that it is important that all of his employees are showered and maintain well-groomed beards.

“My employees need to comb their beards to make sure hair does not get into the food,” Colin said.

If an employee had a beard that was two feet long, Colin said he might require them to wear a hair net. According to Colin, Pizza Colin has not had a complaint about hair being in a customer’s food for six months.

Ellensburg McDonald’s has a much different policy. There are 13 McDonald’s restaurants owned by Greg and Jan Luring, and they all have rules that regulate the crew appearance standards.

“Facial hair must not exceed a quarter of an inch and must be neatly trimmed,” said Theresa Maier, McDonald’s human resource representative.
The McDonald’s in Ellensburg does allow goatees, mustaches and beards up to 2.5-inches.

McDonald’s main reason for having a strict facial hair policy is because of appearances, unlike Pizza Colin’s policy which had to do with health issues. They want to make sure all employees appear professional and well-groomed to customers.

The SURC, on the other hand, has a laid back policy compared to most businesses.

“We have no policy, unless a beard is unmanageable, [then] they will be asked to wear a hair net,” Dan Layman, director of dining services, said.

The SURC’s policy is mostly concerned with making sure hair does not get in food, but as long as the beard is manageable, employees are allowed all the facial hair they want.