Hooters Is a Family Friendly Restaurant (Said No One Ever)

Anonymous
Hooters Is a Family Friendly Restaurant (Said No One Ever)

About four days ago, Hooters, which describes itself as a place where "you'll find craveable food and wings, cold beer, sports, and of course, Hooters Girls," and actually describes itself as "family friendly," redesigned it's current uniform for it's waitresses and bar staff. The original included a tight fit Hooters brand top, tights, make-up, and short tight orange shorts.

The company, whose chain restaurants are 100% female staffed, issued 3 pairs of the new shorts which can best be described as thong shorts, to each of it's waitress staff and told them, they were no longer allowed to wear the former shorts to work and furthermore, if they didn't like it, they could find employment elsewhere.

Hooters Is a Family Friendly Restaurant (Said No One Ever)

This was NOT met with rounds of applause by a lot of it's all female staff because the shorts which were already short before, were now literally showing a lot of the ladies rear. Many of the employees immediately took to social media to complain sighting that this was not the uniform that they were hired to wear and that it would leave them open to (even more) harassment on the job. Some non-employees even wondered if it was a health code violation.

Four days later, the company "magically decided" that maybe it wasn't the best idea to force it's all female staff to suddenly show up to work in a thong, and reversed the mandatory shorts policy in the most ridiculous PR statement ever, trying to turn it around and make it about body positivity and female empowerment!!!!

Hooters Is a Family Friendly Restaurant (Said No One Ever)

“As we continue to listen and update the image of the Hooters Girls, we are clarifying that they have the option to choose from traditional uniforms or the new ones...they can determine which style of shorts best fits their body style and personal image...we’re excited to see a national trend toward self-expression and inclusivity that bodes well for our marketplace.”

Except Hooters has NEVER been about inclusivity. They have had several lawsuits lodged against them by staff or those wanting to work there who have sued over the weight, hair, and make-up requirements, over racial discrimination, and over gender discrimination.

I can already hear the comments...well it is a place called "Hooters," and "these ladies should or did know what they signed up for," but actually they didn't. They did, to clarify, sign up to wear the old uniform, and I'll ask you to imagine if your boss suddenly told you, instead of the usual suit pants, or skirt you've been wearing, tomorrow, you can only wear something that has your butt out. You going to be happy about that?

So basically to avoid future lawsuits, protests, and bad press, Hooters has skirted the issue by giving it's female staff an option to wear the thong shorts. Thoughts?

Hooters Is a Family Friendly Restaurant (Said No One Ever)
149 Opinion