11. Bunnies Earned Merits and Demerits
Perhaps the most outlandish part of the famed Bunny Manual is its use of a merit and demerit system to govern the Bunnies. With an order that seemed one part military and one part summer camp, the Bunnies would receive demerits for even the tiniest of infractions, including having an unspecific “scruffy” tail on one’s uniform. If multiple faults were earned, punishments would be incurred. Other demerit sources included chipped manicures, runs in nylon stockings, and chewing gum.
Another area for demerits was in personal presentation. The Bunny Manual dictated that Bunnies were always to be cheerful and have a smile on their faces. While it is standard in the service industry to encourage a pleasant demeanor, incurring demerits for letting your smile lapse for just a moment is dehumanizing at best. On another dehumanizing note, despite not being allowed to fraternize with club patrons, all Bunnies were forced to undergo a pelvic examination and blood test for STIs. Failure to submit to these tests was grounds for termination, and merely being late for the appointment was worth 20 demerits.