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Harrah's Fires 21-Year Veteran for Refusing to Wear Makeup

"Darlene Jespersen, 45, filed the complaint against Harrah's Reno, owned by Harrah's Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas, last month. Jespersen was fired in August after working 21 years for the resort.

. . . "Jespersen said she has never worn makeup but always has been well-groomed and clean. She was a loyal employee who always had favorable job evaluations, she added.

"Harrah's spokesman Gary Thompson declined comment.

"Tom Stoneburner, director of the Reno-based Alliance for Workers' Rights, said the case is being closely followed by the gambling industry and unions.

" 'This could end up being a landmark case,' he said. 'In Nevada they, (the courts) have always given the industry leeway. This is a case where we think Harrah's has gone too far and we think the courts will agree.'

. . . "Jespersen said she would direct her lawyer, Jeffrey Dickerson of Reno, to begin drafting a discrimination lawsuit.

"She was fired after refusing to comply with new Harrah's appearance guidelines requiring female employees to wear makeup -- defined as blush, mascara, lipstick and powder.

"The policy also requires female workers to wear teased, curled or styled hair and solid black leather shoes. It prohibits male employees from wearing ponytails or hair below the top of shirt collars.

"Stoneburner criticized Harrah's new dress code, calling it 'a big step in the wrong direction. The standards of 20 to 30 years ago are outdated and Harrah's has to realize it's the Year 2000.' "

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