A 28-year-old woman working as a hospital cleaner in Britain says she was fired for wearing too much make-up. Francine Siddaway wore her “trademark Egyptian-style” make-up to her interview three years ago. She also had no complaints from staff or patients, The Sun reported. She said the Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge sacked her after the hospital contractor said she refused a “reasonable management request in the form of toning down or removal of make-up”. Siddaway is considering legal action, and said bosses were looking for excuses to cut costs. She said the move came after 600 staff at the hospital were told in May to take a pay cut or lose their jobs. “I feel I’ve been victimised and treated appallingly. It is obvious why they’ve now decided they have a problem,” Siddaway was quoted as saying by The Sun. The hospital contractor said the dress code was “designed to promote a professional appearance and comply with health and safety”, and the hospital said all staff members sign a form to acknowledge receipt of the uniform policy. Unison, Britain’s biggest public sector trade union with more than 1.3 million members, said it would back Siddaway’s fight.
