Nose pirecing

[MayTheFarceBeWithYou]

I'll try to bullet point this to be brief

I work in an investment bank and want to have my nose pireced for my birthday. I'm 27 and non customer facing in my role.

For context I already have artificially red hair and everyday I wear a large skull pendant. Both of these items I had during my interview. They have never been mentioned.

When discussing my birthday plans with colleagues I was advised to give management advance warning. Now our employee handbook does not explicitly forbid any form of jewellery it's ambiguous- just stating appropriate attire.

I have received in writing that there are existing members of staff with nose studs but not in my department. Also in writing that it would not be an issue if I'd had it done before my interview.

Verbally I have been told there is department discretion for the dress code and they will not support this. I would be asked to remove it instantly and face disciplinary action if I refused.

Does anyone know where I stand on this? I want to argue that it should be a company wide standard not departmental and that timeline of choosing to have this cannot be dictated by my employer.

Many thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

Bump? Anyone any ideas please?

I'm a teacher and I have a nose piercing - very small stud. It's fine at my current workplace but if I was changing schools then I would ask at interview what their policy is.
Not sure where you stand, but surely in a non client facing role it should be fine? Mean of them if not.

You can put your case but if it's deemed unacceptable then you have to respect that. There is no legal protection for employees with facial piercings.

Thanks guys. Only thing is Olly I can't understand how's it fair for one employee but not another. Surely a dress code should be company wide on standards?

They have to apply their policy fairly, but that does not mean that they have to treat everyone the same. They can have a different rule for people who were already employed before their rule came in.
You need to ask about it first.

You can get clear plastic studs that are pretty much invisible. Just wear those for work.