ok, regarding the beards, in isolation from the gender issue, which i think is spurious.

is a beard a religious symbol? sometimes, sure, but any attempt to write a law that states as much would be overly broad, as it frequently isn't. so, you'd end up banning a fashion choice, and that won't hold up. as mentioned, i think the opposite argument - that scarves aren't necessarily religious - is more likely to be successful. that is, the grey area is with scarves, rather than with beards.

that said, there is another reason to ban beards at work, and that is hygienic, or just basic presentation. if i was doing hiring, i would be pretty open about not hiring people with beards, because beards are gross. if i was in the private sector, i would make the argument that i don't want my company represented by bearded people.

again: a policy of clean-shaven men in a work context isn't exactly radical, is it? and, i don't have a problem enforcing it as a part of a basic dress code in a business environment, on purely hygienic grounds, even if a law banning beards on religious grounds is unlikely to stand up in court.

i hope that clarifies my views on this - i didn't mean to suggest that i think beards are less egregious than hijabs, only that you couldn't really enforce the law. frankly, if i had the choice to ban one or the other, it would be the beards that i would ban first.