Chef Claims Long Beach Hotel Fired Him Over Long Hair
LONG BEACH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A luxury hotel on Long Island is accused of being the fashion police in a federal lawsuit over hair.
As CBS 2's Carolyn Gusoff reported, the Allegria Hotel overlooking the Long Beach boardwalk boasts sophistication and style, but one chef who served to a fashion savvy clientele claims his long hair got him fired.
Richard Viscecchia said he was given the choice: get clipped or canned.
"They said they are going to start upholding the image of the hotel and that I had to cut my hair," Viscecchia said. "(And you said?) No."
Viscecchia was served up his termination letter after refusing to cut the locks he has worn at shoulder length since he was a teenager.
Viscecchia said the hotel's recently enforced appearance policy of "men's hair must be above the shirt collar" is discriminatory.
"There are seven women in the kitchen with hair longer than myself. Why should I cut my hair?" Viscecchia said.
Now, he's filed a federal lawsuit accusing the hotel of gender discrimination.
The Nassau County Health Department has no specific rules regarding the length of hair kitchen employees can have at a restaurant. Men and women are required to tie back or restrain hair that is longer than shoulder length, Gusoff reported.
And Viscecchia said he had been doing just that.
"My hair was in a pony tail, up and under my chef's hat," he said.
People of all hair lengths are now weighing in on whether the fashion police at the chic hotel went too far.
"I cooked in many restaurants too and had long hair, and always wore a hair net,"
"Just go short like this,"
"As long as it's in a pony tail, that's fine,"
The Allegria Hotel released a statement, saying it "vehemently denies that Mr. Viscecchia was subjected to any form of unlawful discrimination. We are confident that the court will agree when all of the facts have been presented in the appropriate forum."
Viscecchia, who worked at the Allegria for five years, is working as a chef elsewhere now -- his hair pulled back in a pony tail. His lawsuit demands the hotel pony up damages for firing him.
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