It's hard enough to see someone we love fighting cancer. But imagine having to choose between your work and show your support. That's what happened to Melanie Strandberg, who shaved her head to support her sister, and was then fired from her hairdressing job.
This is the hairstylist Melanie Strandberg of Spokane, Washington, who after witnessing her sister's second finding of ovarian cancer decided to shave her head in support. She told HuffingtonPost that her employer, owner of La Rive Salon and Spa, made her wear a wig to work because her shaved head could offend clients and inhibit her ability to market hair care products. She is now suing the salon.
"I decided that I can't just support [my sister] 50% of the time," Strandberg said. This same act of solidarity with cancer patients, unfortunately, has already caused others to lose their jobs. In 2011, a waitress in Manitoba, Canada, said she was fired because she shaved her head in support of her uncle, who was dying of cancer, according to CBC reports. A similar incident also occurred in 2008.
Phil Haugen, general manager of La Rive's Northern Quest Resort & Casino, says the company is conducting an internal investigation into the incident. "We pride ourselves on celebrating diversity and always honor the choice of an employee to shave his head in support of a friend or loved one who is battling cancer," Haugen said, according to NBC KNDO.
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