I got hired by this place, and my training with them starts on Monday. It's also remote, so hopefully, nothing weird about "load tests" steps into the room. I don't think it will. I already completed my onboarding with them, and the training will last a month. It is a full-time position and actually long-term. I love that I don't have to leave my home to do the work, so it sounds like a win.
In addition to all of this, I am looking into narrating audiobooks as a side hustle of sorts. Unfortunately, because of AI, I wonder how long this will even be an option. Either way, I'm gonna navigate finding some side hustle.
However, I got some anxiety when I read these policies on having a "professional appearance" for video conferences [slightly paraphrased]:
- Hair must be clean and well-groomed in a reasonable style.
- No hats or head-coverings that impede a clear view of your face. Scarves and hair-wraps are fine so long as they do not violate another policy (obscene patterns, etc.)
Because I have freeform dreadlocks, I probably don't fit this "well-groomed" or "reasonable style" description they're talking about. After reading this, I actually decided to wear a (solid black) Rastacap during the interview, and they took no issue with it, so I take it that the Rastacap is not invalidated by the second bullet point there. I guess one could call it a "hair-wrap." Regardless, it is such a goofy, performative, and LARPy thing for them to have these stringent guidelines on one's appearance in video calls for a job where you're not actually even seeing customers, just talking to them on the phone.
Either way, if they do try to go after me for either the Rastacap or the freeform dreadlocks, that can be a violation of anti-discrimination laws, I'm sure. Though I'm not actually a Rasta, I thought it might be in my favor to cap (pun definitely intended) and tell them that I am so they get off my ass for the sake of avoiding religious discrimination. I don't think it will actually get to that point, though, or at least I hope it doesn't.
They keep it vague on purpose. Then they can decide for themselves when they see you
Well, in that case, I'll just show up with the Rastacap. That's the only real alternative to me having my hair visible as it is, and judging by the policy, it doesn't sound like they'd have an issue with it.
Where it's just for video calls, i'm pretty sure it's just a policy put there to prevent someone being on call in their pajamas and bedhead. I think the spirit of it is to look like someone who is at work when on video calls. If I had to guess, they probably arent that strict about it, hell it might just be straight up ignored by everyone, some rules only exist on paper but it's best to play it safe if you're new. Being new also gives you some leeway. If they dont like your hair then it's not like you'll get fired, they'll just let you know to look different next time. Also if you aren't white I dont see management coming after you for having dreads. They would be way too scared of being discriminatory. The rastacap would make them even more scared cause of the relgious association. Use that to your advantage, rastacap for the first little while and then they'll probably feel relieved to just see dreads. I dont see them fucking with you if they think there is an HR risk