Regarding the topic of this discussion, "Air Canada pilots get permission to wear beards".
Air Canada pilots are members of a union/association.
https://www.acpa.ca/
Grooming decisions ( hair, beards, tattoos etc. ) , can be traced back to the 1972 arbitration regarding the Toronto firefighter with ( very short ) sideburns.
Wearing a respirator was part of his job.
The Ontario Labour Relations Board ( OLRB ) arbitrator ruled, "as long as the employee performs the job or work for which he has been hired, the employer has no authority to impose his personal views of appearance or dress upon the employee."
http://www.scarboroughfirefighters.org/notice_files/Side%20Burns_up-Scarborough__Borough__and_I.A.F.F.__Local_626.pdf
More liberal grooming standards may seem a positive step forward by some.
But, may not be seen the same way by some taxpayers ( and possibly some airline passengers / customers. )
Reference,
QUOTE
1) Studying public perceptions of police grooming standards
https://myessays100.wordpress.com/2016/04/16/us-police-grooming-standards/
Summary: The response of the police administrators to the challenges of the grooming standards by arguing that more liberal standards would erode public respect for the police is given. The results of the study show the public's opposition on the grooming standards and the reasons for that opposition.
2) "Research suggests that grooming and appearance features (e.g., facial hair, visible tattoos, dishevelled clothing) can negatively impact opinions of professionalism and trustworthiness," says an internal document.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-man-bun-tattoo-survey-1.4612725
Goatees say "untrustworthy." So do soul patches.
Appearance can affect how a jury assesses an officer's testimony in court, for instance.
END QUOTE