Attire and Grooming

The ITaP Customer Service Center strives to maintain a workplace environment that functions well and is free from unnecessary distractions and annoyances.  As part of that effort, the CSC requires staff to maintain a neat and clean appearance that is appropriate for the workplace setting.  

All CSC staff are expected to present a professional image to customers, support partners, and the public.  Acceptable personal appearance, like proper maintenance of work areas, is an ongoing requirement of the CSC.

Leadership should communicate any specific workplace attire and grooming guidelines to staff members during onboarding and annual performance reviews.  Any questions about the CSC’s guidelines for attire should be discussed with your direct supervisor. 

Reasonable accommodation of religious beliefs

The CSC recognizes the importance of individually held religious beliefs to persons within its team.  The CSC will reasonably accommodate a staff member’s religious beliefs in terms of workplace attire unless the accommodation creates an undue hardship. Accommodation of religious beliefs in terms of attire may be difficult in light of safety issues for staff members. Those requesting a workplace attire accommodation based on religious beliefs should be referred to the human resources department.

Business Casual Dress Code

The CSC expects staff to dress appropriately in business attire of a casual nature.  Our work environment encourages employees to dress comfortably for work.  Please do not wear anything that other employees might find offensive or that might make coworkers uncomfortable.

This includes clothing with profane language statements or clothing that promotes causes that include, but are not limited to, politics, religion, sexuality, race, age, gender, and ethnicity.

• Slacks, Pants, and Suit Pants
  
  Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other makers of cotton or synthetic material pants, wool pants, flannel pants, dressy capris, nice-looking dress synthetic pants, jeans that are clean and free of rips, tears, and fraying are acceptable.  Inappropriate slacks or pants include sweatpants, exercise pants, gym shorts, Bermuda shorts, short shorts, bib overalls, leggings, and any spandex or other form-fitting pants such as people wear for biking.
  
  
• Skirts, Dresses, and Skirted Suits
  
  Casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that are split at or below the knee are acceptable. Dress and skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in public. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for work.  Mini-skirts, skorts, sun dresses, beach dresses, and spaghetti-strap dresses are inappropriate for the office.
  
  
• Shirts, Tops, Blouses, and Jackets
  
  Casual shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, tops, golf-type shirts, and turtlenecks are acceptable attire for work.  Most suit jackets or sports jackets, sweatshirts, and t-shirts are also acceptable attire for the office if they violate none of the listed guidelines.
  
  Inappropriate attire for work includes tank tops; midriff tops; shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans; halter-tops; tops with bare shoulders.
  
  
• Shoes and Footwear
  
  Conservative athletic or walking shoes, loafers, clogs, sneakers, boots, flats, dress heels, and leather deck-type shoes are acceptable for work.  Wearing no stockings is acceptable in warm weather.  Flashy athletic shoes, thongs, flip-flops, slippers, and any shoe with an open toe are not acceptable in the office.  
  
  
• Makeup, Perfume, and Cologne
  
  Should be in good taste; remember, some employees are allergic to the chemicals in perfumes and make-up, so wear these substances with restraint.
  
  
• Hats and Head Covering
  
  Hats are not appropriate in the office.  Head covers that are required for religious purposes or to honor cultural tradition are allowed.
  
  
• Name Badge
  
  All staff members must carry or wear their ITaP name badge while interacting with customers or support partners face to face.

Addressing workplace attire and hygiene problems

Any staff member who does not meet the attire or grooming standards set by the CSC will be subject to progressive discipline and may be asked to leave the work to change clothing.  Hourly paid staff members will need to use sick leave to be compensated for any work time missed because of failure to comply with designated workplace attire and grooming standards.

Violations of the policy can range from inappropriate clothing items to offensive perfumes and body odor.  If a staff member comes to work in inappropriate dress, he or she will be required to go home, change into conforming attire or properly groom, and return to work.

If a staff member’s poor hygiene or use of too much perfume/cologne is an issue, the supervisor should discuss the problem with the staff member in private and should point out the specific areas to be corrected. If the problem persists, supervisors should follow the normal progressive discipline process.