[Krystal]

Source- CBC News

A 36-year-old waitress at an Owen Sound, Ont., restaurant lost her job this week after she shaved her head to raise money for a cancer charity.



Stacey Fearnall said it was a 'pretty easy thing' to shave her head to raise money for cancer research, but was stunned when her boss fired her over it.

Stacey Fearnall raised more than $2,700 for the charity Cops for Cancer, a local fundraiser for cancer research.

Then the 36-year-old waitress at Nathaniels restaurant was laid off when she showed up for work earlier this week with her newly shorn look.

Up until a week ago, Fearnall had long red locks, but she said she made the decision to have her head shaved because she has a friend battling cancer and she lost her father to the disease.

"I felt like this was a pretty easy thing for me to do to raise money to help people," she told CBC News on Thursday.

She said she told her bosses what she was planning to do, but when she arrived at work at the restaurant practically bald, she said they sent her home and told her she wasn't welcome back.

"'We'll call it a layoff.' That's what he said," Fearnall said her boss told her. "'Spend the summer with your kids.' I call it losing my job."

Nathaniels owner and chef Dan Hilliard issued a statement late Thursday saying Fearnall did not advise him that she was planning to shave her head.

"Mr. Hilliard had indicated that this is an employer-employee matter and such matters are not to be dealt with in the public," the statement said.

Her dismissal has already provoked an outcry from some in the community.

"You have to express yourself with your wallet," George Brechin said. "I won't be eating there in the future."

'It's not hurting anybody'

Rowena Pinto, spokeswoman for the Canadian Cancer Society, told CBC News her organization has never heard of something like this happening before in relation to any of its fundraising events.

"We want to underline that it's supporters like Stacey that enable us to carry out our mission," Pinto said.

Fearnall might have grounds to sue on the basis of gender discrimination, said Barbara Hall, chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Hall noted that bald men work at restaurants.

"If something were acceptable if done by a man but not by a woman, then there might be a basis for a complaint," she told CBC News.

Fearnall said she isn't sure if she wants to sue, but she doesn't think she did anything wrong.

"I think it's for a good cause," she said. "It's not hurting anybody and it doesn't affect my ability to work."

She said she is working at a new part-time job where her boss loves her new look and has offered her extra shifts.

[tuna_fish]

thats horrible I hope she does sue.

[brewgrl]

I hope no one eats there anymore, what a coward boss to make a statement like "this is an employee-employer issue"... it's the a-hole's answer.

[emily_3383]

Man what a jerk!

[~Ms.August~365]

This is horrible. She should sue and give the proceeds to a cancer charity.

[Karen CD FL]

It is absolutely disgusting what this woman's employer did.

If anything her decision to donate her hair for cancer would have brought advertising to the restaurant and brought more customers in. Nothing makes a venue more attractive then when they do something for a good cause.

One day when this employer or one of his loved ones is laying in bed with terminal cancer and they have lost all their hair, he might realize what a horrible human being he is.

[blueangel1023]

what a ******bag boss! I'd sue if I was her, but I'm glad she moved on and found herself another job who happens to "like" her look

[tendresse]

Man I would hate to be standing anywhere near that guy when Karma catches up!!!

[akbaby]

i dont even see why it would be a big deal if she was bald. what an idiot employer. i hope they never get business again because this is the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard.

[jacquelyna]

That's awful, she didn't deserve to be treated that way.

[Bec688]

That's absolutely apalling. I'd go the boss for unfair dismissal.

[Anthea]

That does not sound right to me. How can you discriminate against any one for their physical apperence? Hopefully there is enough publicity to affect this persons business.

[Carolyn]

Owen Sound is a relatively small town. I'm sure business is suffering as a result of their actions.

[StereoXGirl]

Originally Posted by brewgrl

I hope no one eats there anymore, what a coward boss to make a statement like "this is an employee-employer issue"... it's the a-hole's answer.

I couldn't agree more!

[pinksugar]

I'm glad she has a new job.

I really hope that they suffer for doing this... what A-holes