Do you care what colour hair your midwife has?

[Purplekaz08]

I have seen on the news that a midwife is Lincoln has been told not to go to work and may lose her job because her hair is dyed red? AIBU to think this trust is out of touch with the modern world? I really would not care if a midwife or nurse had rainbow coloured hair as long as they were kind and competent?

People should just get over it. Being professional involves your conduct at work. In terms of your appearance you should look as though on that day you've taken the time and trouble to get ready for work properly (i.e. you've washed, combed your hair, put on clean appropriate clothes) it shouldn't dictate the style you choose for outside of work e.g. hair colour or hair cut.

Here's a link to the story in question: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-46618162

I honestly couldn’t care less.

Red hair or tattoos, her choice, can’t see how it makes her any less professional. Surely that what qualifications and experience matter?

There’ll be more to this than her hair colour.

When hospitals are calling out for experienced staff, I’d find it hard to believe that management have decided to potentially sack a midwife over the colour of her hair.

It’s more likely that there are a number of issues and the hair colour (if it goes against a uniform policy) is one just one of them, but makes for a good, sympathy inducing headline.

One midwife in my hospital had red hair, another had rainbow hair. Both were older (40s), both were great midwives as far as I could tell. This was at St Thomas’, which presumably has its pick of applicants so could appoint normal-hair-coloured midwives if they so wished.

Wouldn’t bother me a jot. Lots of women there were from BAME backgrounds who might in theory have more prejudice against weird hair colours, none of them seemed bothered either.

As long as they're fit to do the job and show compassion and care who gives a shit??

I couldn't muster up any fucks to give, no. I'd want someone clean and qualified with a decent bedside manner, that's it.

One of the most wonderful (and very professional) members of staff at the hospice that my Mum was in had a whole rainbow going on. Patients and relatives of all ages and all anyone saw was how great she was at her job!

My sister told me i wouldn't care if E.T was delivering my baby and she was spot on. Hair colour is a non issue.

Oy, Knittedjest and Ladymalfoy, hands off Mr Spock! He’s mine, mine I tell you...
I’ve swooned over that gorgeous Vulcan for the last 50 years. Must be the longest crush in history!

It’s not the hair itself but it’s about discipline and professional conduct. Just not smart. NHS rules about this are clear from the outset and include jewellery, nail varnish etc. Personally I feel much of this has been lost and way too much phone use in the workplace.

The midwife I had when I had a late miscarriage had red crazy hair and me and my husband did look at each other when she left after introducing herself..She was fabulous and I am so glad she was with me all day.
It made me realise I was terrible to silently judge her and now I don't care what anyone looks like!

Wouldn’t have bothered me in the slightest. Dirty hair does though!

The Trust where the midwife should be working is in special measures. I doubt it is because of her hair! The predominantly greying/ balding/incompetent male execs and managers need to pull their fingers out ....this is the least of their worries.
I live in Lincolnshire and on the news the Trust seem to think that this sort of thing is important regarding improvement.

I am quite shocked re the not looking professional comments also.

I couldn't care less what colour hair my midwife has or even if she has hair at all as long as she's qualified, kind and good at what she does.

This

Differentcorner, discipline and professional conduct has nothing to do with the colour of someone’s hair. Jewellery and nail varnish are a different matter.

Nurses aren’t in the Army or in a nunnery, Your position on this is indefensible.

I don't care what hair colour they have as long as they're competent and empathetic.

I also wonder if there is more to this.

There are definitely some petty rules around looking professional, which is incredibly subjective anyway.

But there are also practical, safety & infection control reasons for a lot of the rules; Long hair, nail varnish, crocs & jewellery are not banned just because someone was in a bad mood.

Uniform policy makes me laugh. Some procurement idiots buy uniforms that can only be washed at low temps.

They are the ones who should be disciplined.

I'm glad my professional qualifications & skills are respected overmy hair colour.

^. That's quoted from another poster, but I totally agree.
The article has the relevant bit highlighted and it comes down to professionalism apparently. I really don't understand how having red hair (any colour hair) prevents professionalism?

Are there statistics anywhere that state that someone who dyes their hair black because they like it, will act with more professionalism than someone who dyes their hair red, or green, or blue, or blonde, because they like it?

They're just colours and why such judgement on something that has absolutely no bearing on an ability to perform? If the red hair in some way prevented a midwife from doing the job then understandable, if it were say huge rings or bracelets ouch that would literally affect patient care because of where the midwife needs to put her hands! But no colour of hair does that.

One of the few things I remember about DS birth ( traumatic so I've blocked most of it out) was a lovely midwife with shocking pink hair popping in to help occasionally.
And her being jealous that her colleague was getting to listen to "decent music".
Her hair colour certainly had no bearing on the care I received.

If she had green hair I'd worry that she was a witch and would take my baby and lock her into a tower and name her after a stupid herb. I would have to take it up with PALS in order to get her burned at the stake and thus prevent her curses forever.
This would be very stressful with painful melon tits and a mimsy full of stitches on no sleep, quite frankly I could do without it.

I am joking.
I wouldn't give a fuck. In fact I'd be comforted that as a fun hair dyed person I had someone on my wavelength.

I can tell you now, with absolute certainty, that hair colour is the ONLY issue with this midwife. She is a great midwife.

As for those saying that she has gone against hospital policy, when she interviewed for the job, she had red hair, her ID badge has a photo of her with red hair, she worked for the trust for numerous years with red hair!! The issue is that they changed the uniform policy recently, and this is why she was suspended.

Odd thing is if a blonde dyed their black or black to blonde it wouldn’t be a problem. Dyed an unusual colour and oh no it’s not professional. It also makes me laugh that nurses are (quite tightly) expected to tie their hair up but beards are ok and doctors walk around with long untied hair. Madness.