Can You Have a Beard at Amazon? (Facial Hair Policies in 2022)

Amazon employs over one million people with annual revenue of $500 billion. You want a piece of the pie, but you’re not willing to shave off your beard to get it. You’re in luck! Amazon has a relaxed facial hair policy.

Employees can have beards at Amazon, whether they are working as delivery drivers or in the warehouse. Even long beards are allowed but are required to be tied up if working in a warehouse setting due to safety reasons.

Read on to learn more about Amazon’s facial hair policy!

Are Amazon employees allowed to have facial hair?

With its intense productivity goals and high output, Amazon is not known for its casual work environment. However, workers are encouraged to dress comfortably while considering any safety concerns that may come up with dealing with heavy equipment.

Amazon employees are allowed to have facial hair as long as it doesn’t compromise safety.

Employee commenters on discussion boards say almost “anything goes” hair wise as long as you keep it neat and clean.

Can you be fired for growing a beard at Amazon?

Amazon employs many bearded men so getting fired just for growing a beard won’t be an issue.

Since Amazon’s grooming policy allows for beards, you cannot be fired for growing one. Amazon does have restrictions on length for certain positions. The grooming policy does require hair to be neat and clean. If these requirements are repeatedly violated, you could be fired.

To stay in management’s good graces keep your beard free from foreign objects and show off your grooming skills. As long as you look professional, your facial hair shouldn’t be in jeopardy.

Fun Fact: Amazon “employs” 6,000 dogs at the Seattle campus. They have their own doggy deck complete with fire hydrants. Amazon embraces furry friends and furry faces.

Does facial hair policy vary with different Amazon positions?

Amazon as a whole encourages both employees and guests to their facilities to feel comfortable and casual. One senior product manager at the Seattle office said, “You can usually tell how new someone is to our campus by how nicely they’re dressed.” 

While a relaxed dress code is encouraged, some stricter guidelines are put into place to protect employees.

Amazon’s facial hair policy does place restrictions on certain positions. Warehouse workers must tie up long beards to prevent them from being caught up in machinery or packages.

No one wants their beard to become one with some monster machine. Beard hairs stuck all over the packaging tape probably isn’t the best move from a customer service standpoint either.

Should you shave for an Amazon interview?

Shaving off your beard pre-interview isn’t necessary. Give it a good wash and trim before you meet your future bosses and you should be good to go.

It is not necessary to shave for an Amazon interview since employees are allowed to have facial hair. It is necessary to make a good first impression by having a neat, clean, well-groomed appearance.

An interview is a fact-finding mission for both parties. If they see any issues with your facial hair, they will probably voice it then. It’s an excellent time to ask questions about their culture and make sure Amazon is the place for you – beard and all.

Are there exemptions for beards and mustaches at Amazon?

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and prides itself on inclusivity. In some instances, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Equal Opportunity Laws can offer relief from facial hair restrictions.

Exemptions to grooming policies may be granted on a case-by-case basis. Legally, facial hair exemptions can be made on the basis of religious and cultural beliefs or for medical reasons. 

These exemptions are unlikely to be necessary at Amazon as employees are allowed to have beards so long as they are not a health or safety risk.

Religious or cultural beliefs

U.S. Equal Opportunity laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex.

For some cultures and religions, facial hair is an outward expression of faith and observance. 

In these cases, talking with your manager will get the process rolling on overcoming any restrictions that could interfere with your faith.

Medical reasons

The Americans with Disabilities Act ensures employers provide accommodation for employees with disabilities unless it would cause undue hardship on the employer’s business operations.

If you suffer from a skin disorder that makes shaving painful, providing documentation can often exempt you from strict requirements.

Are beards considered unprofessional?

For most industries in 2022, beards are perfectly acceptable. There may be some requirements on length so doing some research ahead of time is encouraged.

Beards are not considered unprofessional in 2022. Most work environments allow facial hair as long as it looks professional and hygienic. Before interviewing for a job, it’s always a good idea to research the company culture.

If you are working with a job recruiter, they can be a wealth of information when it comes to dress codes and company grooming preferences.

Looking at the company website and social media pages can also give you a glimpse into the work environment. Do you see men with facial hair in any pictures? If so, do the majority have full beards or short stubble? These details can give you valuable intel into the acceptance of facial hair locally.

Amazon hair policy in 2022

Openly casual is the name of the game at Amazon and their hair policy is no exception.

Amazon’s hair policy requires employees to keep their hair neat and clean. In positions where hair can interfere with equipment, it should be tied up and kept out of the way. There are no specific limits on hair color.

In some circumstances, long hair can obstruct peripheral vision. When operating machinery or assembly lines, hair must be pulled back away from the face. The way you wear your hair should not interfere with safety equipment like hard hats or safety glasses.

According to current employees, unnatural “fun” hair colors are allowed, especially in the warehouse environment. They commented that employees in management positions even went the colorful route.