Developmental Services 1/15 Behavior in Work Settings – 6-16

PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE
POLICY:
While it is the intent of the agency that all employees dress for their own comfort during work hours, the professional image of the organization is maintained, in part, by the image that our employees present to customers (people supported or their families), vendors, and others in the community.

PRACTICE:
1. Employees working in office areas should dress professionally. Blue jeans, T -shirts, and leggings are not appropriate office dress.
2. On approved casual days, employees may dress in casual clothing, including blue jeans, although dress standards still require a neat, clean appearance. Employees meeting with customers or the public should wear appropriate business attire.
3. Employees working in direct support or maintenance areas may wear blue jeans and T-shirts as well as shorts as appropriate.
4. Employees may not wear unusually revealing clothing (such as halter tops, strapless tops, spaghetti straps, tank tops, cropped tops, short shorts), tee shirts with offensive wording on them, clothing that shows undergarments (sheer), torn clothing, or clothing with holes in it. All clothing must be clean, neat, and fit properly.
5. For all employees in the public view, professional appearance also means that the organization expects the maintenance of good hygiene and grooming while working, including:
a) Rings or studs through the nose, eyebrow, tongue, or body parts (other than the ear lobe) visible to the public must be modest in size if worn while working.
b) All tattoos must be modest in size or covered at all times and may not be offensive in nature.
6. Employees working in direct support should have fingernails that are natural (not artificial), short or moderate in length (¼ inch maximum) and properly cleaned. Artificial nails harbor significantly more potential pathogens than natural nails.
7. Employees should wear appropriate, safe footwear for their job. Employees working in the office areas should dress professionally. For employees that provide direct support:
a) Appropriate foot wear includes:
 Shoes that are firmly attached to the entire foot, either from being laced or strapped.
 Shoes that have protection for the toes.
 Shoes that have textured soles to prevent slipping.
Developmental Services 1/15 Behavior in Work Settings – 6-17
b) Inappropriate foot wear includes:
 Shoes that are attached to the foot with one strap (e.g., flip flops).
 Fully open-toed shoes (e.g., flip flops, strapped sandals).
 Shoes with smooth or slick soles.
 Shoes with high heels.
8. Employees should refrain from wearing heavily scented fragrances or bringing heavily scented items to the work place during working hours, including perfumes, after shaves, body odors, tobacco odor, etc. (As a rule of thumb – if the odor can be detected at a distance of arm’s length, it is too heavy).
9. Clothing, footwear, and any jewelry must not constitute a safety hazard for employees or persons supported. All employees should practice common sense rules of neatness, good taste, comfort, and moderation. The agency reserves the right to determine appropriate dress, grooming, adornment and fragrances at all times and in all circumstances. The agency may send employees home to change clothes or remove items should it be determined their dress or grooming is not appropriate. Employees will not be compensated for this time away from work; however, personal leave may be used.