Hairy legs win over hotel rule

Press, 26 June 1989, Page 3

Hairy legs win over hotel rule

NZPA Wellington The Hotel Workers' Union has won its battle in Wellington on behalf of a hairy-legged housemaid at the expensive James Cook Hotel. The hotel’s housekeeper ordered its women house staff to shave their legs or wear pantyhose. The union’s secretary, Mr Peter Cullen, said the housemaid was threatened with suspension unless she conformed to new house rules which appeared in a memorandum at the same time as a new set of uniforms was issued. In the memorandum, the hotel housekeeper stated: “I insist on regular leg grooming. If you do not wish to groom your legs, you will be required to wear pantyhose. The housemaid did not want to shave her legs; nor did she wish to go to the expense of buying pantyhose. The union said the housekeeper admitted there had been no complaints from guests, but said “because of the new uniforms, we expect new standards.” The housemaid maintained the rules were an unnecessary intrusion, particularly as she did not work in a public area of the hotel. After discussions the argument was resolved and the housemaid was allowed to work bare-legged and with unshaven legs, the union reported in its monthly magazine. The hotel’s duty manager, Ms Olivia Martin, said the staff were asked to wear pantyhose, but no action was taken against those who did not. She knew of no instruction about grooming of legs.