In the simplest terms; the employer cannot take any action becausenof the beard unless there is a valid reason such as with the gas maask.
With respect to religion, Title VII prohibits among other things:
disparate treatment based on religion in recruitment, hiring, promotion, benefits, training, job duties, termination, or any other aspect of employment (except that "religious organizations" as defined under
What we are speaking of is disparate treatment in assignment of the job duties.
This is what he originally said:
I am going to be put indefinitely at the service gate, which is least desired, as a reward for being awesome. All officers normally rotate to different posts everyday / week. I can't help but feel segregated and discriminated against. HR says they have the right to manage the appearance of member facing positions. Every other department here that has dealings with members more often than my department has bearded men. Am I wrong? Is HR right?
He also mentioned the possibility of losing overtime opportunities at member events.
There is a difference between "least desired" and lesser pay. There is a difference between a well groomed beard and an unkempt one. There is a difference between very occasional overtime opportunities and significant overtime opportunities.
I would fully expect to be relegated to the back room doing quality control of tax returns, with the same pay I am getting now, should I decide to somehow change my appearance enough that it would "put off" our clients, even if it was due to a religious issue...or even due to a disability related issue. My clients are always asking if I will be there for the long term, and I always joke that even if I am using a wheel chair or walker with an oxygen tank strapped to my back I will be there.
The reality of things however is that the wheel chair probably wouldn't bother any of our clients, but the oxygen tank probably would...it would raise some concerns as to competency.
This OP is apparently in the security business. While a well trimmed beard might not raise issues with clients, an unkempt one certainly could. Not because of who that person might be culturally, but of competency...because a lack of grooming raises competency issues.