A young woman, whose TikTok username appears to be @ykluhslim, shared a video detailing her experience of being sent home from work due to her hair color. The on-screen text in the video stated, “Your job tried to send you home because of your hair color but your auntie had a solution.” The video then shows the woman speaking, explaining that she was sent home from her job.
She indicated in the video that her workplace had an issue with her hair. She mentioned, “at the store right now because they made me go home because of my hair.” The footage then appears to show her in a store, possibly a beauty supply store, with shelves of hair products visible in the background. An older woman, wearing a leopard print jacket, is also seen in the background of this scene.
The young woman further explained that she was able to return to work thanks to her aunt. “So thanks to my auntie, we’re, um, here,” she said in the video. The clip then transitions to show her in a car, wearing a dark blue uniform shirt with striped sleeves and a logo on the chest. She is seen holding a package and appearing to put on a wig.
The video shows the woman now wearing a black wig and a navy blue baseball cap with yellow trim. She is in the car, seemingly preparing to go back to her job. She gestures with her hands as she speaks, her expression shifting from frustration to amusement. She stated, “It’s gonna be funny. Happy Halloween!” The video concludes with a close-up of her face. The public caption for the video included the hashtags #mcdonalds, #funny, #irritated, and #work.
Addressing workplace dress codes and employee rights
Workplace policies regarding appearance, including hair color and style, can often be a point of contention between employers and employees. These policies are typically established to maintain a certain brand image or professional standard. According to the video’s creator, however, in recent years, there has been increased attention and legislation, such as the CROWN Act, aimed at protecting individuals from discrimination based on natural hair styles and textures.
The video shared by @ykluhslim touches upon this issue, as she said in the video she was sent home from her job because of her hair color. The video shows her wearing orange braids. After being sent home, she appears to have sought a solution to return to work, which involved her aunt.
In the clip, she is seen in what looks like a store, possibly acquiring a new hairpiece. She then appears in a car, wearing a uniform, with the video’s public caption using the hashtag #mcdonalds. She is shown putting on a black wig and a baseball cap, as she prepared to return to work.
The young woman’s explanation in the video indicates that her aunt provided the means for her to return to work. “So thanks to my auntie, we’re, um, here,” she stated. This suggests her aunt helped her find or purchase the wig. The subsequent scene shows her ready to go back to her job, wearing the wig and cap.
She expressed a sense of humor about the situation, saying, “It’s gonna be funny. Happy Halloween!” This remark implies that her return to work with a different hairstyle, while perhaps a workaround, was intended to be perceived as amusing. The video’s public caption, including #mcdonalds, #funny, #irritated, and #work, further contextualizes the situation as a workplace incident. Fast-food workers and customers clashing over appearance and respect has played out in drive-thru videos too, like a woman in a car asking a person recording at a Starbucks drive-thru to respect Black women.
Comments from viewers on the video offered various reactions and opinions. One commenter suggested that her hair color should not have been an issue, stating, “ginger is a natural color and Ronald Mcdonald has red hair THEY TRIPPIN.” Another commenter referenced legal protections, saying, “That’s against the law #crown act.”
Further reactions highlighted concerns about workplace compensation versus control over appearance. One comment read, “McDonald’s do not pay enough to have say so over anyone’s hair color . I worked at McDonald’s for many years when I was younger with red hair & tattoos. 🙄 They hating on you cuz you pretty , Thats all that is .” Another viewer expressed disbelief at the policy, commenting, “Girl they can’t do that it’s MCDONALDS ☠️☠️☠️.” A different perspective was offered with, “ummm that’s a natural hair color.” Lastly, one commenter noted the effectiveness of her solution, stating, “ngl the wig tea asf tho.”
