Maine prohibits hairstyle discrimination

Maine has enacted legislation (Legislative Document 598) that expressly prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals because of their hairstyle or other traits associated with race. Legislative Document 598 takes effect on Aug. 8, 2022.

The Details:

By way of background, the Maine Human Rights Act prohibits all employers from discriminating against applicants and employees based on their race and certain other characteristics. Legislative Document 598 amends the law to also expressly prohibit discrimination based on traits associated with race, such as hair texture, Afro hairstyles, and protective hairstyles, which include braids, twists and locs.

Next Steps:

• Review dress codes, appearance policies, and training to ensure compliance with Legislative Document 598.
• If your policy simply indicates that employees must maintain kempt hair, consider clarifying that kempt means that the hair is clean and well combed or arranged, and that employees can comply with a variety of hairstyles that meet those criteria.