Flying the Well-Groomed Skies

Some time ago I had written a blog on how some passengers are targeted by airlines due to the way they dress; whether it's having a dress that's deemed too short or shirts with 'inflammatory' statements it seemed that passengers were being scrutinized too much. Well it appears that the tables are slowly turning and Indian Airlines is the first to make greater inroads (and the news) by apparently targetting an employee for the way he 'wears' his moustache.

Recently, former Indian Airlines steward Joynath Victor De, appeared in court to protest his 'forced' 2001 retirement from Indian Airlines on the grounds that he was discriminated against due to the appearance of his moustache (see the picture accompanying the blog). Now there are some members of the Indian community, namely those from the Sikh community, who are required to keep beards and moustaches as part of their religion and these folks are allowed to have facial hair within reason. Everyone else on the airline staff was expected to have well-groomed hair (be it on top of the head or facial hair). Unfortunately, Indian Airlines felt that Mr. De's moustache was a bit too unruly. Now in viewing the picture of Mr. De's moustache I can see why perhaps he was called into question as to whether or not it was appropriate for him to be on an airline staff with such a moustache. Not that there's anything wrong with such a moustache but when the airlines have a standard grooming policy there is reason behind it.

In the airline industry as with any professional industry, there is a desire to show professionalism and that goes hand in hand with the way your employees dress and groom themselves. Like it or not, this is something that's expected isn't it? After all, most of our first impressions are based off of what we see visually isn't it? If you see a plate of food looking as if it just came out of the trash rather than a kitchen, you're more likely to toss it rather than savor it. But if that same dish of food is brought to you looking like a chef has lovingly arranged everything on a plate just for you, you'll probably feel like the star attraction at the restaurant and enjoy the food as such. Similarly, if you work in an office dealing with important people, if you're dressed the part in smart business attire then you're more likely to have that professional attitude compared to someone who is doing the same work but dressed in shorts and a tank top. Both people may have the same knowledge and ability, but the one dressed like a slacker is probably less likely to get work.

In some industries there is an expectation of casualness or even over-casualness in the way people dress. In the IT industry where programmers can spend umpteen hours a day entering code, there is a desire to have them be comfortable and this translates to dressing however they want. Of course the ones dealing with management and customers are usually the ones not quite so casual and not quite so laid back but then again, that goes with the task you're accomplishing. Getting back to Mr. De, his moustache may be his expression of self but it's also reflective of his company. If he has an unruly moustache which lends itself to the impression that he's equally uncaring the rest of his hygene and sanitary details, then that's the impression people take away and hold for much longer. People begin to wonder whether or not he's actually dirty and here he is attempting to serve them an inflight meal. No wonder he was encouraged to meet the standards of his company. Right or wrong, it is the only way to ensure that people are impressed appropriately. Like it or not, our first impression is usually the lasting one.