“Work sets you free” they wrote in the concentration camps in Nazi Germany. “Italy is a democratic Republic based on work” claims the Italian constitution. In US great deal of media attention was given to the so-called “right-to-work law”.

But working, though being fundamental in our lives, has, at least in certain jobs, an inescapable condition, which is not about being skilful or excelling in customer service. No. Candidates can be useless lazy creeps or they can not have the least idea about the job they applied for. You can be either of this but you must be shaved. Pay attention: not looking smart and clean. No. Shaved.

And why? The answers are mysterious: “This is about the company’s standard”, but your boss is not shaved; his beard, however, is as tidy as you could keep yours if you hadn’t had to shave every day. If an employee refuses to shave, which is in his rights, not having other arguments to sustain their thesis, they will start attacking you personally: “You look messy” or “you should look as beautiful as I am” while you smile taking that as a compliment; and if still you haven’t decided to lose the only visible manly attribute which characterise you they will refer to you with epithets worthy a mention in the next guidelines of bon ton.

I admit I am biased, and truly hate the feeling of the razor slipping down my cheek and leave a cut that just God knows when it will stop bleeding. As a society we always care about growth. Economic growth, social improvements and better living standards. But when will we personally grow and get rid of these old-fashioned believes and give a chance to everyone to make himself look smart clean and fresh even though he grows a beard?

So here are some reasons why people should not shave if they prefer not to:

1. If your boss is a health and safety maniac let him know that as many as five well known people have died in history because they cut themselves with the razor. The best known of these unfortunate souls is John Thoreau, brother of the famous American author Henry David.

2. If your company looks for multitasking employees just show your boss the daily motion blogpost on what a person can do with his beard: he can paint, make his own beer and store stuff in it too.

3. If your company is one of those which give high importance to racial equality and respect of tradition, well it is written on the bible: “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.” (Leviticus 19:27)

There would be many other reasons such as freedom of expression or just mere skin care. But, at least my employers have always been rather deft to this arguments.

So if you are in such a situation try with those three reasons. Perhaps you will be luckier than I was.