Salon Job Advertisement Removed For Requesting A ‘Happy’ Stylist

Manager Claire Young (left) and owner Alison Birch of AJ's Unisex hair salon in Stroud, Gloucestershire.

A salon in Gloucestershire recently placed a job advertisement on the website Jobcentre Plus. Among other requirements, such as a fully qualified stylist, the job advertisement also stated that they are a "happy salon looking for happy people". However, the advert was not posted, due to a dispute surrounding the working of the ad. 

Within just hours of submitting the ad the owner, Alison Birch, owner of AJ Unisex Hair Salon was contacted by the website. She initially thought it was a ‘wind up’ when she received the call. However, after checking the number, she realised it was in fact the number belonging to The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).  

"They said we can't place your advert because you have put a discriminatory word in it and we need to change it," she said.

"They also said you're not allowed to use the word happy, in case somebody thinks they can't apply because they are not a happy person."

Alison was “adamant” that she did not want to change it. She explained that she only wants to hire “happy” people and “surely by asking for happy applicants I won't make unhappy people even more unhappy by not offering them a job.”

The DWP shortly apologised, saying that it was a mistake on their side: “We mistakenly advised a customer to amend a job advert but have since offered to repost the original copy and apologised for the error."