4.15.16 Personal Appearance
A. Purpose
This policy seeks to set acceptable standards and expectations to guide employees as to what is deemed appropriate for the personal appearance. The formality of workplace dress is determined by the context and nature of work performed, as well as the level of interaction with members of the University of Texas at Tyler , the Health Science Center other off-campus instructional sites (UTT).
B. Persons Affected
This policy applies to all UTT employees.
C. Definitions
N/A
D. Policy and Procedures
General Organizational Expectations
All UTT employees shall dress in a manner appropriate to their position, safety, office environment, and discipline. Dress, grooming, personal cleanliness, and hygiene contribute to the morale of all employees and affect the business image that the University projects. During business hours and while representing the UTT, employees are expected to present clean, neat appearance. They should dress and groom themselves according to the requirements of their position and UTT guidelines. This is particularly true when an employee’s job involves safety issues or dealing directly with customers or the public in general.
Additionally, employees are expected to exercise good judgement and common sense in regard to their personal appearance. Clothing and/or accessories that are extreme or may be distracting from productive work are not appropriate.
The Health Science Center at UT Tyler
Employees, faculty or staff who are required to wear specified clothing (i.e. scrubs) for their roles at the UTT, such as food prep, surgical, sterile, and other clinical areas, may be required to dress accordingly before entering those environments..
Approved identification badges must be worn while in the workplace or at work-related events. Name badges may not be covered or defaced with pins, stickers, buttons or other logos and must be visible.
Clothing must be professional in appearance and of appropriate size. Clothing must not contain advertisements, jokes, messages or inappropriate wording.
Jeans may not be appropriate in specific departments, with the exception of express prior approval from department leaders. .
Hats/head coverings are not acceptable, except where required by weather or safety regulations, as part of a religious accommodation, or for approved medical reasons.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that employees who provide direct patient care or who have contact with food or patient care equipment are only allowed natural fingernails with or without manicured nail polish, excluding shellac or gel polish. Artificial nails are not allowed, which may include, but not limited to, wraps, tips, tapes, acrylics, dips, appliqués, overlays or bonding material. Fingernails must be clean and not exceed one-quarter inch in length. Nail polish color must be conservative and not chipped. Decorative adornments are not appropriate. Nail polish is not permissible in surgical/sterile areas.
Shoes in clinical areas must be closed-toe. Sandals or flip-flops are not appropriate. Surgical/sterile settings may require additional guidelines.
Scrubs may be required for designated clinical/research roles. Designated fabric colors, styles and monogramming will be communicated as appropriate by the senior department administrator. Scrubs must not be worn by personnel who are not designated by administration.
The use of heavy colognes, perfumes, aftershave lotions or heavily-scented lotions may not be permitted in certain clinical/surgical/sterile areas.
Tattoos should be appropriately covered; other than ears, body piercings must not be visible to others.
Beards and facial hair may be appropriate if neat and closely groomed, but may not be allowed in certain clinical/surgical/sterile settings or by employees required to be "fit" tested to wear specified respirators or protective gear. Appropriate coverings are required in food and sterile areas.
Hair must be neatly groomed, clean and neat in appearance. Long hair must be pulled back and secured for employees in certain clinical/surgical/sterile areas or for safety and security reasons. Hair color must be conservative (no purple, blue, etc) and may not have inappropriate adornments that distract or create potential safety hazards.
Department Specific Practices
In order to comply with regulatory agency requirements and varying departmental operations, departments are authorized to establish and enforce additional dress code guidelines that are reasonable and that promote legitimate business and/or safety interests.
Religious Beliefs
If an employee’s religious beliefs conflict with the UTT’s policy on personal appearance, the employee may follow the HOP 2.11.2, Religious Accommodation, to request for an accommodation. An accommodation allowing an exception to the personal appearance policy must not impact safety or uniform requirements, or other aspects of employment.
Responsibility
Managers are responsible for communicating and enforcing these standards. Employees who arrive to work in violation of this policy may be sent home without pay and are subject to further disciplinary action, up to and including termination.