British Airways is accused of sexism after a male worker, 26, claims he was SACKED for wearing hair in a 'man bun'

  • Sid Ouared, 26, claims British Airways bosses demanded he cut his locks 
  • The former Heathrow worker, from London, was told his hair was 'like a girl's'
  • He claims he suffered discrimination as women are allowed many hair styles 
  • BA's uniform policy says men can only have ponytails with dreadlocks
  • Have you had a similar experience working at BA? Email cheyenne.roundtree@mailonline.com 

By Sami Quadri For The Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

A British Airways worker has accused the airline of sexism after he was sacked for having a 'man bun'.

Sid Ouared, 26, claims his contract was terminated after bosses demanded he cut his locks because it breached uniform policy. 

The former Heathrow customer service worker said one of his bosses even pulled him aside and told him: 'Your hair is like a girl's hair.'

Sid Ouared, 26, from London, has accused British Airways of sexism after he was fired two weeks into his job for having a man bun

Sid Ouared, 26, from London, has accused British Airways of sexism after he was fired two weeks into his job for having a man bun

The former customer service worker at Heathrow airport was told by BA bosses to cut his hair, put it in a turban or turn it into dreadlocks- none of which he wanted to do

The former customer service worker at Heathrow airport was told by BA bosses to cut his hair, put it in a turban or turn it into dreadlocks- none of which he wanted to do

He said: 'They basically said, 'cut it, put it in a turban like a Sikh, or turn it into dreadlocks like a Rastafarian'. I am not any of those things and I can't believe that they would make me wear my hair like something that I am not.'

The Londoner, who had his contract terminated last month after just two weeks in the job, criticised British Airways for being 'stuck in the 1970s'.

He claims he suffered discrimination for having a hairstyle deemed appropriate for women but unsuitable for men. 

The airline told Mr Ouared's hairstyle breached company policy which only allows men to wear their hair in a ponytail with dreadlocks however women are allowed many different styles

The airline told Mr Ouared's hairstyle breached company policy which only allows men to wear their hair in a ponytail with dreadlocks however women are allowed many different styles

He was told he was not allowed to wear his hair in a man bun because 'only women can have their hair in a bun'

He was told he was not allowed to wear his hair in a man bun because 'only women can have their hair in a bun'

Mr Ouared, whose role included checking in luggage, said: 'I was told I can't have my hair in a bun because only women can have their hair in a bun.

'So because I'm not a female, I wasn't permitted to have my hair in that style. It was absolute sexism. I was even told by a member of management at BA, 'your hair is like a girl's hair'.

'Thousands of women who work for BA and who worked alongside me had their hair exactly like mine. Yet I'm discriminated against for it.'

Orlando Bloom has sported a man bun during his career
Leonardo DiCaprio has had a man bun hairstyle throughout recent years

Celebrities including Orlando Bloom (left) and Leonardo DiCaprio (right) have worn their hair in a stylish man bun

Stars including Leonardo DiCaprio and Orlando Bloom have had man buns, and Mr Ouared said his hairstyle was not raised during the 'long' recruitment process. 

He even tried to compromise by tucking his hair under his collar to make it less noticeable.

BA's uniform policy says ponytails for men 'are only permitted to secure dreadlocks'. Women, however, are allowed a number of styles, including a bun, ponytail or single plait.

An employment law expert says that dress codes must be applied equally to both men and women

An employment law expert says that dress codes must be applied equally to both men and women

Emma O'Leary, an employment law expert at ELAS, said dress codes must be applied equally to men and women.

She said: 'The company would need to justify why a man could not have long hair and be tied back in the same way that a woman can.'

A British Airways spokesman said: 'We don't comment on individual cases.'

BA

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