can a business refuse any person who does not pass its standard?

Whew, tough question. I own a business would I allow these scenarios? If I say yes, having the hair cut by a customer having lice may infect my other customers. If have him in my barber shop and throw all the things I used for him, that's is discrimination. If, I have him cut outside my barber shop or at the back of my barber shop, still I might be charged of discrimination. Hmmm.... If a customer with flies eat in my restaurant I will be charged and my sanitation permit will be revoked. If I will not allow him i will be charged of discrimination and racism. and I will be charged against human rights. Hmmm... it's not a win win situation cutie. such a tough question. Maybe this... just maybe 1. Barber shop: I will shampoo his hair with anti lice before cutting his hair free of charge. 2. Restaurant: I will give him the best spot in my restaurant, maybe a vip room, where there is a curtain (LOL). arrrrgh! I simply can't figure out. what to do... interesting

Here in UK a couple were prosecuted because they being devout Christians refused a homosexual couple permission to stay in a double room in their bed and breakfast establishment all the best, urban

Hi Cutie, I'm in the States and I'm sure the law varies depending on where you are. I know that my boss has banned certain people from entering the store where I work. It is a legal process and he has had to go through the police and they notify the person and get their signature. The reason is usually stealing and rather than bring them to court, they agree to stay away from the store. As for Hygene reasons..I wish but I don't think that would be legal. We have some customers where I have to hold my breath while waiting on them. AND their smell will linger long after they have gone. Lice? I think that any hairdresser would be within her legal rights to refuse a customer for that reason if she told the person the reason. That is not just unsanitary but it is a health risk to other customers so that one sounds legit.

Any business can refuse service to a possible customer for any reason unless it is in direct conflict with a state or federal law. A barber can refuse service if a person is unkempt...a restaurant can refuse service to an offensively dirty person...I am a landlord, and I can refuse to rent to people for whatever reason I choose, although the only thing I would ever have a problem with is a shady work history, since that would hint at the fact that in the case of a lost job, I wouldn't get paid the rent. In customer service jobs, you may refuse service to an unruly customer in the case that they are rude and nasty to you. My husband used to work for a retail store that refused service to teenagers in the early morning, since a high school sat just a block away and teens would come to steal in the mornings. After refusing service to these kids (along with a sign on the door), their cases of theft dropped considerably, so it was a smart business move. As for my opinion, a business being allowed to refuse service is just one freedom that American business owners get. Very rarely do you hear of cases of refused service (because, after all, businesses want business!), so normally service is refused in cases of dealing with very miserable people or in cases where the employee feels unsafe. People do NOT have a right to receive service from a business; they DO, however, have the right to give their business elsewhere in the case they have been refused by another for what is normally a good reason.

It is bad to judge a person by what he looks like but with the examples you cited, I think I business has the right to refuse to provide them service most especially if they might present some harm to the rest of the customers. In a restaurant, good sanitation should always be monitored as they are dealing with food. And as for the barbershop, if the customer seems to have those lice, it can be left on the towels, brushes and combs that the barber has used. And that would surely spread to other customers head as well. I think that we should just be sensitive enough and wisely choose on whom to reject and allowed to be provided with our businesses.

Hi friend, business person must consider his business as a god and don't see partiality with the clients, he will treat every one as same. Sad to hear about the barber's activity.

Yes. In the case of the restaurant, there could be people that have never been there before and while they're waiting for their food there are bugs flying around, they may think it's always like that and not only walk out but tell other people, so it hurts his business. But those are very extremes, not bathing for years or flies following around. Actually, if you think about it, A person can run a business how ever they want but don't complain if it loses customers and eventually goes out of business. You never know, that barber may have had no other reason. But it is ridiculous but it's his business. There are plenty of other barbers to go to.

Hi there, That's an interesting question. As a business owner, I would never intentionally offend anyone but at the same time, I need not be offended by a person either nor would my staff need to be offended. I would not do business with anyone whom I felt uncomfortable with in any way. My husband and I do own a business and we have very few problems with unsanitary people. Our business would not hurt at all if we turned away a sale from one who is unclean in that way. They need to be more concerned with shopping for a little soap and water before shopping with us.

Well, many places here, it is a belief still that customer is God. So no worries. if I am into business, I will have no issues whatsoever - anyone who can pay and is willing will be my customer. After all, it is the money that matters when you are into a business... and if the payments are on time and right amounts (or maybe more) why do I not give services.

Based on some comments at a glance, this does not have to do with the idea of discrimination at all. Not just a barbershop, I have seen public places like bus, restaurant, and mall that shows different signs. For example, I've seen a sign that you cannot get on the bus without shirt and shoes. This is common sense. Bus is a public transportation shared by many. One has to look appropriately. Whichever you dress does not matter, as long as you follow with what is accepted by the public. On your example, the barber has the right to refuse on health grounds. He/she could tell the woman to come back after she cleans up after herself to get a service. No one should tell the woman to do that, but this is common sense. The same goes to restaurant. Restaurant is visited by many customers. Depending on what kind of restaurant it is, you go there to eat, but you need to appear properly. As long as you do not pose potential hazard or danger to others (also to oneself), a restaurant should not have a reason to refuse service. Also, one should dress properly as well.

Here in my country if a business targeting the customer based on the gender they will put a sign, like in a Spa center "for women only" and if the Spa allowed both gender they will put a sign that they allow both gender to come to the Spa. I also see some barber shop put a sign "for male and children", so it wont give confusion which gender may come and the case that female customer sued the barber for refusing to cut her hair won't happen. So a business may have standard which customer they allowed to enter. But I understand if a restaurant refuse customer because he smells so bad and flies following him, it's a hard situation to refuse a customer but we also want the other customer not to get annoyed from the smell and the flies, right? If this situation happen, we can offer the person take away order.

This is the first time I heard of such things, in some aspects it is reasonalble,but on the other side it is not,I think we should not blame any one.If there's a principle for such things in the country,maybe better.

wow; it's hard to tell. you make an extreme imaginary situation. if someone has money he/she will not smell bad or with flies following him/her like the alien in MIB who walks around with cockroaches, this never happens. but since you're asking, I'm a small restaurant owner, I try my best to serve my customers whatever their background, religion, ethnic or whatever reason they're different from me, I don't care. I serve them all and I serve them to the best. and I don't think business can refuse customers if they still want in business, they can make arrangement for any situation. in your case, I'll direct that customer to a bit far location (in corner maybe) and still serve him if he can afford to pay. after he left and I can use room perfume and bugs killer whenever needed.

In our knowledge, the customers have their rights to choose whether they will accpet the service. On contrary, i think the business also has its right to refuse someone, and this kind of behavior does not cross the line. If the business was compelled to accept a customer, it will show no equity in the relationship between the business and the customer. But in our comman sense, the customer is the God, and the business should express hospitality and welcome. Oftern the business will not refuse serving the customers because they also want to earn money. However, if a customer destructed the environment or left a bad ompact on other customers, this would infulence the business to make profits, in this case i think the business can show their unwelcome. As a customer, though we have money to pay the service, but we also need to consider other customers. We cann't be so selfish, right??

Personally I do know of places that will not allow certain types of people in there unless you are dressed nice, or look nice. Even a lot of times when they smell, etc. there is always a standard they go by. I know if I owned a restaurant I would have a hard time with these type of people, unless I had certain days or times where I would allow the less fortunate in. But personally over the yrs. I have come in contact with a lot of different people. There are people who do not look the best who are richer, and it could be because of Health problems or depression that keeps them looking that way. We are not supposed to judge, but many times people with good jobs, etc. have to be wary of their approach around others.

Where I'm at it is a law that people can not get anything done with their hair if they have lice, a barber or cosmetologist has no choice but to refuse a client infested due to health issues. If someone smelled horrible, I would not expect them to be sitting in a restaurant. As a customer, if nauseates me just to be sitting down in a restaurant and either eating or waiting for food and someone with strong perfume mixed with BO. I would expect someone like that to be seated farther away from other customers or not at all. If someone that seemed to smell bad and got seated near me, I would insist on being seated elsewhere or leave and go somewhere else. The way I see it, if someone is offensive to everyone else by sight or smell, that chases away other customers and loss of money.

hi c utie here in the US a lot of p laces like cafes and restaurants have signs saying we have the right to refuse service anyone specially unclean people and drunks. this makes it legal and if a person is drunk or just horribly dirty he ore she can be escorted out of the premises. This must be posted where all can read it. Some fancy restaurants will refuse to serve a man who does not have a jacket or shirt on or is barefooted. they must have shoes on.

I think business is business and whatever the kind of person coming into your business you should treat them kindly. They are your customers or client and you need to preserve the client relationship between your business...

its just because the quality is very important and there is a strong need to meet the standards and expectations too,so we need to sort it out

i think if they do refuse someone, they better have the legal papers saying they can refuse customers' service. Other wise, they could get in trouble. Refusing customers is also more damaging, I think - at least from what I've seen and heard, - on the perception of the business than to allow that customer service. If they can refuse, they better have legal paperwork and a certain kind of reputation to maintain. Other wise, it won't be good for the company.