Dress Code

Policy #HR4.8

HENRY MEDICAL CENTER

Stockbridge, Georgia

Key Index Title:	Dress Code & Professional Appearance	Effective Date:	July 19, 2007
Distribution:	All Departments	Supersedes:	08/06 Policy
Formulated By:	Human Resources

Purpose:

It is imperative that all Henry Medical Center employees project a positive, professional image to our external and internal customers. This policy provides standards for dress and appearance in order to convey that image. Department Directors will establish minimum dress requirements, over and above this policy, as appropriate to their individual areas and work related duties. In keeping with One Team-One Purpose principles of "On-Stage, Off-Stage," employees are considered "On-Stage" whenever they are within eye-shot or ear-shot of a customer/patient.

Policy:

Henry Medical Center employees are expected to project a professional image in accordance with the standards set forth. Dress and appearance are intended to present this professional image. The intent of this policy is to define professional dress and to ensure that employees are attired with the customer in mind.

General Hospital-wide Dress Code:

1. Henry Medical Center identification badges must be worn above the waist and face forward at all times. The intent is that badges be easily visible and readable. The badge may be worn on a neck chain, lanyard or badge-holder. The neck chain, lanyard or badge holder must be hospital issued, or plain with no logos or names. The badge should have no attachments.

2. Employee attire will be clean, professional, and not wrinkled. No message of any kind is to be depicted on the employee's clothing. Small designer logos are acceptable. Henry Medical Center logo apparel is permitted providing it meets other criteria set forth.

3. Good personal hygiene must be evident at all times. This includes, but is not limited to:

a. Body cleanliness, including the use of deodorant.

b. Clean, well-groomed hair and fingernails.

c. When selecting personal hygiene products avoid those products with noticeable fragrance. No perfume, cologne, perfumed lotion, or perfumed products should be worn by those employees with direct patient contact due to potential allergies, asthmatic reactions, etc.

4. The following are examples of clothing that are inappropriate for work and not allowed. This list is not all-inclusive:

a. Denim of any kind except long sleeved HMC logo shirts on casual Friday

b. Stirrup pants

c. Sweat pants, sweatshirts, or warm-up suits (parachute-type material)

d. Capri pants (all pant hems must reach the ankle)

e. Low-cut tops, halter tops

f. Sleeveless shirts when "on-stage". Sleeveless shirts under jackets are allowed.

g. Shorts or knickers

h. Clothing that is revealing, is not size appropriate, or clings to the skin too tightly (i.e.: tank tops, low cut blouses or dresses, spandex, stretch pants, etc.)

i. Skull caps, head scarves (with medical necessity and religious exception), bandanas, sweat bands or other head coverings are not to be worn inside the hospital. Scrub caps must be conservative in size and color.

j. T-shirts may be worn only under outer clothing and should not be visible.

No visible logos, designs, or names will be allowed on T-shirts.

5. Dresses and skirts must end no more than four inches above the knee.

6. Appropriate undergarments must be worn at all times.

7. Those departments and/or employees required to wear uniforms will follow the established departmental dress code. Refer to attachment "Dress Code Guidelines for Uniforms and Scrubs."

8. Hospital-issued scrubs will only be worn in Perioperative Services, Labor and Delivery, Cardiac Cath Lab and by designated Radiology personnel. Employees will not be allowed to wear hospital-issued scrubs to and from work. Refer to attachment "Dress Code Guidelines for Uniforms and Scrubs."

9. Only licensed healthcare personnel may wear white lab coats. All lab coats must be clean and wrinkle-free.

10. All employees are expected to respond quickly to emergency situations that may arise on the hospital campus. For this reason, the following are specific details regarding shoe choices. This list is not all-inclusive:

a. All shoes must be neat, clean, well maintained and

properly support the foot.

b. Shoes should not be conducive to slipping or falling.

c. Platform shoes, spiked heels or flip-flops are not permitted.

d. No heels should be more than two inches high.

e. Shoes that expose the toes are not permitted for patient contact staff.

f. Clinical clogs are permitted for non-direct and direct patient care providers but only if they have a strap around the heel for safety and do not have holes on top that could allow blood and body fluid or any liquids to seep through to the employee's skin. Clinical clogs must be conservative in color.

g. Athletic shoes are permitted with uniforms, but must be neat, clean, well-maintained and white or match the color of the uniform.

h. All shoes should be either "business" or "business casual."

11. Hosiery must be worn when appropriate to the work environment. Women are encouraged to wear hosiery when wearing dresses or skirts. Men must wear socks. The hosiery must be of conservative colors. Vividly colored hosiery or hosiery with designs or seams is not permitted.

12. Hair must be neat and clean. Hair color must appear natural. Unnatural colors include but are not limited to blue, purple, green, yellow, magenta, burgundy and orange. Extreme hairstyles (such as Mohawks) are not allowed. If hair is longer than collar length, direct patient care givers must wear hair pulled back away from the face, and to the nape of the neck. Hair, beards, and mustaches will be conservative in length and neatly trimmed.

13. Fingernails must be clean and neatly trimmed. Nail colors should be conservative. Chipped nail polish is not allowed. Neon or metallic nail colors are not permitted. Fingernails should be conservative in length and should not impede job performance. Artificial nails are not allowed for direct patient care givers, environmental service employees or food handlers. Adornments, stripes and designs on nails are not permitted.

14. Jewelry/Tattoos:

a. All jewelry should be conservative in size, amount and design.

b. Employees may wear conservative pierced or clip-on earrings. There is a maximum of two earrings per lobe.

c. No visible pierced jewelry other than earrings is allowed.

d. There should be no visible tattoos.

15. Chewing gum is not permitted when "on-stage".

16. Make-up should appear natural.

17. Variation from this policy due to religious or other cultural beliefs will be addressed by Henry Medical Center on an individual basis.

Exceptions to the General Dress Code Guidelines

1. Business Casual dress will be optional every Friday for those employees who do not wear uniforms. "Business Casual" work attire should be crisp and neat, classic rather than trendy, and does not include jeans, t-shirts, sweat shirts, culottes or any denim. HMC logo apparel is encouraged. Men may wear khaki pants and golf or polo shirts. Ladies may wear casual dresses or blouses or golf shirts with either skirts or slacks. Slacks must reach the ankle. No culottes, city shorts, or sleeveless blouses will be allowed. All material must be at least business casual. No gauze or sheer fabric or any clothing that is worn-out, frayed, or has holes or tears will be allowed. If in doubt about appropriate "business casual" attire, follow the general dress code until you seek clarification from your supervisor or Human Resources.

2. Clinical staff that need to change into hospital-issued scrubs when reporting to work may arrive on campus in business casual dress.

3. Also employees who come to the hospital campus for the sole purpose of attending an educational program or a meeting and will not be "on stage" will also be able to dress in business casual attire.

Disciplinary Procedure

Any employee who does not comply with the standards set forth in this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. This may include being instructed to leave the premises. Any work time missed because of failure to comply with this policy will not be compensated. Implementation of disciplinary action will be at the Department Director's discretion. Repeat violations of this policy will be cause for disciplinary action as follows:

1^st violation - Verbal Warning

2^nd violation - Written Warning

3^rd violation - Final Warning

4^th violation - Termination

Dress Code Guidelines - Uniforms/Scrubs

4 South 4 North 3 South 2-South CCU Progressive Care unit Cardiovascular Unit ACU Maternal/Child NICU Nursery Observation PAU ED	RNs/LPNs = Royal Blue or white uniforms or any combination of these colors. Scrub jacket or white cotton sweater if desired. PCAs = Cranberry/burgundy/plum uniforms. Cotton sweater or scrub jacket Unit Secretaries = Khaki or Black tops and bottoms or any combination of these colors. Cotton sweaters only. No fleece jackets or pullovers. Holiday jackets may be worn one week prior to the holiday. Holidays are defined as HMC recognized holidays per holiday policy.
Respiratory Therapy	Hunter green
Non-invasive Cardiovascular Services	Black scrubs
Radiology	Scrubs - any color File Room - scrubs or business casual Front Desk - business casual
Invasive Cardiovascular Lab	Hospital green scrubs with white lab coats
Rehab	Black pants/scrubs with color tops. White lab jackets, if desired.
Environmental Service	Blue Landau 8327 BADP pants with blue & green Landau BZP8269 top or Black pants with purple collared shirt
Dietary	Cooks = Chef's Coat FSAs = Black pants with white collared checkered shirts Spv.s = Black pants with purple collared shirt
Transporters	Khaki pants & navy shirts
Engineering	Blue shirt and navy pants
Warehouse	Navy pants and maroon Materials Management shirt
Laurel Park	Any color = we encourage variety RNs/LPNs = Blue/green/purple shades PCAs = Red/pink/peach/yellow shades
Lab	Phlebotomists = pink and gray
Pharmacy	Navy scrubs, white lab jacket