Can they discipline me?

[MashedPotatoFace]

I've NC as this could be quite outing. I'm certain the person in question on MN but other colleagues might be.

I'm an academic and I do boxing as a hobby. My hobby means I occasionally get black eyes, bruises and split lips. This has never been a problem before. All my colleagues and students know I box and that's why I sometimes look battered. If I'm meeting people for work (i.e. running an open day, visiting a school, meeting potential colleagues), I will usually explain why I'm bruised and actually it's very good ice breaker!

We now have a new head of department who's raised it as an issue and is threatening me with disciplinary action because I don't look professional.

My contract doesn't say anything specific about looking professional, the only thing that might be related to how you look in there is about not bringing the university into disrepute.

We don't have a smart dress code at work. People wear all sorts from full suits to sportswear. So it's not like there's an expectation that everyone looks "professional". In fact there are some really scruffy buggers in the department!

I've been in touch with the union and am waiting for them to call me back.

Just thought I'd ask what the MN opinion is, please.

[GahBuggerit]

id be amazed if this got anywhere tbh. See what the union say but if its not been a problem before its unlikely its got legs and the new HoD is probably just chucking their weight around.

[Longdistance]

Well, from my Dhs experiences, he's a rugby player (hobby) and he too turns up for meetings with scrapes, bruises, black eyes etc. No one really says anything as he does look like a typical rugby player, broken wonky nose, cauliflower ears can you tell he's handsome he has had a odd comment but says 'well you should have seen the other bloke' to which everyone laughs and it breaks the ice.

At least you have an outside interest that you love. Don't know what to say about your new boss. I'd definitely wait for your Union to get back to you.

[GahBuggerit]

And just to say, if it does go to disciplinary you'll be given opportunity to put your case forward so gather evidence that its not been a problem before, the fact that it is a great icebreaker etc, your personal hobby and your appearance after it has no bearing on your ability to do the job and it is not going against any policy etc

[HMC2000]

Sounds ridiculous to me, especially if you're an academic. Where I work, academics tend to look scruffier than everyone else. Can't see this going far. What if you played rugby, or got wacked with a hockey stick or something?

[ToesInWater]

I can't see any grounds for disciplinary action - horribly stressful for you though.

[GahBuggerit]

And, if this was me advising the Manager about this course of action Id ask them to consider if they would feel the same about someone coming to work with visible facial injuries after being attacked, if its simply about the appearance.

[MashedPotatoFace]

Thanks for all of your comments on this.

The union called me back yesterday and said that while there are limited grounds to my Head of Department pursuing this, there's been an increase in the number of these kind of cases recently as universities have become far more savvy in terms of their public presentation and selling a product. She thinks the clause in my contrast about bringing the university into disrepute could cause some issues but wouldn't get very far.

My union rep advised me to stick to the fact I've not broken my contract (because HoD is specifically saying it's an issue about looking professional and my contract says nothing about looking professional) and if it does get referred to HR to go back with a claim of gender discrimination.

I've got a meeting with my HoD tomorrow but I'm not currently sporting any split lips or black eyes so I'm not sure if she'll mention it. If she does, I'll update.

[flowery]

I'm not sure why your union are advising you that this not being specified in your contract means it is not grounds for disciplinary action. Justifiable disciplinary action is not limited to conduct which is specifically mentioned in a contract or policy.

I'm also not sure why they are advising claiming "gender discrimination" - have you reason to believe this issue would be handled differently for individuals of another gender?

Having said that, threatening disciplinary action isn't a particularly reasonable way of dealing with it. The reasonable course of action for the HoD to take if she feels appearing with facial injuries of that type presents an unprofessional image of the university is to discuss it with you and explore whether there are any additional steps you can take to avoid this type of injury.

[MashedPotatoFace]

flowery They're focusing on the fact I haven't broken my contract because it's not a one-off incident/behaviour and it's never been an issue before.

Yeah, I'm not entirely sure about the gender discrimination thing either. I don't have evidence that men would be dealt with differently but the union rep said it'd been a defense that others had used in similar cases.

While I agree that there are better ways to address it, it's never been an issue in the past and has only been raised as an issue since the new HoD came in.

[scrabbler3]

Re the gender thing - maybe the union rep has the impression that the HoD thinks/has said that its unseemly for women to have boxing injures. Has there been any indication of that?

You go into schools. Fwiw I think it's great to show girls (and boys!) that women can box if they want. I hope nothing comes of all this and that you can carry on with your role and your sport.

[MyBrilliantDisguise]

Can't you protect your face when you're boxing? I don't mean for the sake of work, but just for yourself!

[MashedPotatoFace]

Thanks for all of your comments. The HoD didn't mention anything when we had a meeting but was very short and stern with me in general. I think she hates me.

Mybrilliant You can get face saver helmets (I do have one) but these can be really cumbersome and I prefer not to use them. We're encouraged not to thump each other too hard but bashes and bruises can't be helped even if you're not punching particularly hard.