Adam Cooke was on a trainee management scheme with Enterprise-Rent-a-Car in Terminus Road, Chichester, when he was told to remove a single, thin gold hoop from his ear during an employee appraisal last May.

Mr Cooke said he was surprised as he had worn it in his job interview and had been wearing it for 16 months before his bosses picked up on it.

After he was sacked for refusing to remove it, Mr Cooke, of Chidham Lane, Chidham, took the company to an employment tribunal for unfair
dismissal and sex discrimination.

Mr Cooke (34) lost his claim because the tribunal ruled he was not treated less favourably on the grounds of his sex and that he was not dismissed unfairly because the company said he was flouting its dress code.

It said he had been spoken to on a number of occasions about the earring once it had been noticed.

Mr Cooke believes the company's dress code is discriminatory and that if women are allowed to wear earrings, men should be allowed.

"I haven't spoken to a single person who understands how I lost my case. To say women can wear earrings and men can't wear any seems silly," he said.

"In the 1970s a woman lost her case to be able to wear trousers. Times have changed."

Mr Cooke said he has worn an earring since the age of 13.

"With more and more role models from the big screen and football, it
is inevitable more men will have earrings," he said.

"I can't see anyone telling Jermain Defoe or David Beckham to take their earrings out.

"If I had known from the start I would have had to remove my earring, I would not have taken the job, simple as that."

Enterprise Rent-A-Car said all employees signed to say they understood the dress code when they joined the company and all staff were expected to wear traditional business dress.

Company spokesman Lee Broughton said: "The way in which we communicate our dress code is fair and even-handed, and we make every attempt to be clear about it.

"We thought highly of Adam and his managers did try to help him
understand our business dress policy on many occasions.

"The tribunal decision does follow what we understand to be the case law on dress codes. They have long supported the idea employers can have dress codes which can differentiate between men and women, provided the overall effect is the same."


What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news
Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news
Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP