I can answer this question with absolutely the most amount of experience. I don't remember exact time stamps but a few years back I was getting really bad infections on my face from shaving everyday, I got a staph infection on my neck and had to spend the night in the ER because the infection was close to getting into my blood stream. My manager was pissed I called into work, when I returned I refused to shave until UPS got me an appt with "their" dr. I was written up for appearance failure about a week after being back(with little scruff). I got the Dr appt the next week, thus allowing me another day off.... and THEIR Dr wrote me an indefinite no shave note, I was the FIRST driver in my hub of almost 500(feeder and pkg) drivers to get the shave waiver. However, the write up for appearance stuck because it happened before I got the shave note.(grievance filed)
*paint target on back now*
About a week later, I was tailed by my manager on route.... caught me with my sleeves rolled up... I got a warning letter for appearance.(grievance filed)
A week later, coming into the hub after driving my route an on-road caught me with my top button un done and was issued a warning letter and proposed 3 day suspension.(grievance filed)
About 2 weeks after that(it was peak) I came in one morning with a black under armor long sleeve under my shirt....but I was wearing a UPS issued jacket, at exactly one minute after start time I was approached by my manager, which whom notified me I was out of appearance guidelines because only a brown or white shirt can be worn as an under shirt and was issued a termination.(grievance filed and harassment grievance filed)
I must note that after I got the shave waiver a flood of employees rushed to the same Dr to all get shave waivers, maybe 20.... trust me, UPS was pissed that I started the "no shave trend"
My "working termination" case went to local panel and was denied by UPS's current labor manager(which whom Id had prior issues with as a center manager years before).
"Working termination" went to Regional Panel 750 miles away from my home which I attended..... At panel it was all but laughed at that they tried to fire me over rolled up sleeves, a shirt button, and a black shirt...all different offenses. The termination didnt stick, not that it has an absolute chance in hell of sticking....
When I returned, with a better understanding of the appearance code... I wore yellow sunglasses, a pink wrist watch, and a necklace with a sharks tooth on it for a week... considered a bozo the clown wig but it was too itchy....
I only really wore that jazz in and out of the building to make a statement, even though it stressed my steward out... I helped pave a road to that made mgmt realize it could be worst.... No talk in the contract about what color my sunglasses can be!
I hope this helps.... it sure was an interesting few months.
