Long bearded and employed

[Rusty Shackleford]

I would hope that hard work and a strong performance on the job would be what employers are looking for rather than aesthetics and appearances. A neat and clean professional appearance should be what matters, not hairstyle or facial hair.

Exactly.  Any employer who thinks mothering their employees is their job instead of focusing on the company's competitiveness and profitability is an irresponsible employer that is more interested in the fun of bullying their employees than the work of doing their job.  This is why they fail to cite a sound reason for their anti-beard policies and simply parrot out the generic and meaningless "it's not professional".  Unless you are working for Gillette or some other company the produces products for the purpose of shaving, there are few valid professional reasons to ever demand an employee shave.  It's time more men started saying no to these demands and stopped supporting businesses that have such demands (for example I no longer shop at Publix and somehow the bearded employees of the grocery stores I do use have managed to figure out how to put milk on the shelves).

[DoberDaddy]

Exactly!

[beardedbaldgerman]

I think even Gillette should be okay with a beard if you keep your head smooth. I had no problems with my beard since I started a new job on January. I even grew it longer. I always waited for someone to bring up the topic but so far nothing happened.

[BBCESQ]

I think even Gillette should be okay with a beard if you keep your head smooth. I had no problems with my beard since I started a new job on January. I even grew it longer. I always waited for someone to bring up the topic but so far nothing happened.

Your beard length in your avatar is about the length I am shooting for, it looks awesome. 

[tobler1]

0mm, I think the beard looks awesome on you.  I think that would be way too long for me, but it does look super cool on you.  You totally pull that look off and own it!

[slybeard]

+1 here 0mm, you need yo update your username.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I think even Gillette should be okay with a beard if you keep your head smooth. I had no problems with my beard since I started a new job on January. I even grew it longer. I always waited for someone to bring up the topic but so far nothing happened.

Wow!  It sounds like you work at a company where the focus is on remaining competitive and making money.  What a crazy concept!  The beard looks awesome BTW.