Hanover Healthcare Plus Network

HANOVER HEALTHCARE PLUS NETWORK HUMAN RESOURCES POLICY 5:17:01

DRESS CODE/PERSONAL APPEARANCE POLICY

Effective: October 1, 2009

I. POLICY:

It is the policy of Hanover HealthCare Plus to establish an employee standard of personal appearance and dress that portrays a professional image to patients, families, and co-workers at all times. Personal appearance establishes a first impression, promotes a sense of confidence, and supports our pride in professional and service excellence.

The standards set forth below are intended to establish a minimum guide for the personal appearance and dress of all employees. Nothing in this policy should be construed as a prohibition to establishing specific departmental standards that are more stringent than those contained in this policy provided they are based upon operational needs, valid employee or patient issues, or safety considerations.

Employees are responsible for adhering to these standards and department directors must ensure the consistent enforcement within all their assigned work areas.

II. DRESS AND APPEARANCE STANDARDS:

1. Identification/Name Badges o Must be worn at all times. o Must be visible. o Must be above the waist. o Must be legible and not faded. o Must be a recognizable representation. o Must be updated every three years for current photograph.

2. Personal Hygiene o Good daily personal hygiene is expected. Staff members should be clean and maintain a neat appearance while at work. Body odors are offensive and can be avoided by regular and thorough personal hygiene. o Hair . Must be kept clean and well groomed. . Hair that is shoulder length or longer must be pulled back away from the face and in such a way that it does not constitute a safety hazard to the employee when working in proximity of equipment or patients. Hairnets must be worn by all personnel working with or around food or other dietary supplies. . Hair must be styled to present a professional appearance. Extreme hairstyles such as Mohawks/shaved designs unnatural colored hair (i.e. purple, green, etc.) are prohibited. o Facial Hair must be kept neat, clean and well groomed. o Hands must be clean at all times.

o Excessive use of perfume/cologne or scented lotions is prohibited. Strong fragrances such as perfume, aftershaves, scented lotions, cologne, cleaning agents, and air fresheners may affect individuals within the workplace who are sensitive to chemicals. Fragrances can have adverse effects on patients, visitors, and co-workers. All staff members should be aware of asthma triggers and be considerate of co- workers and those patients/customers served. o Nails . Fingernails may be polished as long as the polish is in good repair and there is no evidence of chipping. Nail polish that is obviously chipped or worn is not allowed. . In accordance with patient safety/infection guidelines and policy, clinical employees may not have artificial nails; items glued to the nail surface or nail extensions.

3. Personal Attire o All clothing must be clean, wrinkle free and well kept. o T-Shirts with or without pictures, cartoons, terms, messages, slogans, offensive words, logos, including the logos or slogans of organizations, other than specifically provided by Hanover HealthCare Plus are prohibited. o Tank tops are prohibited unless worn under uniform tops or shirts with sleeves. Exposed midriffs or abdomens are not permitted. o Low cut tops of any type are prohibited. o Undergarments must be worn but should not be visible at any time, including visibility through outer clothing. o Pants and slacks must be at or below the ankle. o Capri’s, crop pants, clam diggers, or shorts are not authorized for wear while in a working status. o Denim jeans or jean-like materials including shirts, skirts and pants are prohibited. o Skirts (length must be no shorter than three inches above the knee) o Shoes must be cleaned and well maintained. . Open toed shoes of any type are prohibited in areas where patient contact or services are performed as well as in any work area where a safety hazard is deemed to exist. . Flip-flops and shower shoes are prohibited. o Appropriate hosiery must be worn by all clinical staff and is strongly recommended for non-clinical employees. Male staff members are required to wear hosiery at all times. o Patches, pins, stickers, buttons, or other items depicting pictures, cartoons, terms, messages, slogans, offensive words, logos, including the logos or slogans of organizations, other than specifically provided by Hanover HealthCare Plus, are prohibited.

4. Jewelry o Female employees are authorized to wear no more than two pairs of earrings, which must be worn close to the ear so as not to interfere or become a safety hazard when working with equipment or patients. Male employees are not authorized to wear earrings at work. o Pierced jewelry in the nose, mouth, eyebrow or other visible location is prohibited and must be removed while working.

5. Tattoos o All visible tattoos must be covered while working.

6. Casual Dress or Special Event Days o Administration may modify the Dress Code to permit casual dress days or allow for relaxed dress standards in observance of special days or events such as Halloween,

major sporting events, etc. The purpose of casual or special dress days is to have fun at work and promote employee morale. When such workdays are designated, it should be remembered that employee attire must always be in good taste and promote a professional image to our patients, families and visitors.

III. RESPONSIBILITY :

1. It is important that all employees follow the guidelines outlined in this policy. Questions or concerns regarding compliance should be addressed to management in the following order: a) immediate supervisor; b) department director; c) vice president.

2. The Human Resources Department should consult with management members on the development of appearance standards. The Human Resources Department provides support to department directors, managers, and supervisors in the appropriate application and enforcement of the dress code policy.

3. Open communications between management and staff and the establishment of a friendly, cooperative work atmosphere go a long way towards eliminating serious disciplinary problems. If, however, problems do arise, supervisors should make every effort to ensure that staff members have a thorough understanding of both Hospital and departmental dress code policies. Staff members who violate the Dress Code Policy will be subject to progressive disciplinary action in accordance with current policy.

Original: October 1, 2009 Reviewed: Revised: March 3, 2014 (addendum added)

HANOVER HEALTHCARE PLUS NETWORK

HUMAN RESOURCES POLICY 5:17:02

DRESS CODE/PERSONAL APPEARANCE POLICY

ADDENDUM: NURSING UNIFORM POLICY

Hanover Hospital Nursing Uniform Policy Addendum to: Hanover Healthcare Plus HR Policy 5:17:01 Dress Code/Personal Appearance Policy

II Dress and Appearance Standards

Personal Attire:

Nursing Uniform  RN-LPN: Solid navy blue is the standard uniform color. Tops and bottoms must adhere to the solid navy blue color. White or navy lab coat, snap jacket or cardigan sweater may be worn over uniform.

 PCA-Tech: Solid wine is the standard uniform color. Tops and bottoms must adhere to the solid wine color. Wine lab jacket, snap coat or cardigan sweater may be worn over uniform.

 Unit Secretary/Service Advocate/Registrar: Black pants with white or grey blouse or shirt, or grey uniform top. Grey lab coat or snap jacket may be worn.

 Manager/Director: White lab jacket or snap coat

 White short or long sleeve or turtleneck tops may be worn under uniform top.

 Not permitted:

1. Other color inserts, trims or patterns on uniform

2. Hooded jackets, sweatshirt type or fleece outer wear

3. Scarves or decorative socks

4. Thermal fabric tops

5. Visible long underwear

 Bottoms are defined as pants or skirt. Skirts much adhere to the length requirement established in this policy.

Holiday Attire Holiday scrub jackets, tops, turtlenecks and socks (with solid uniform bottom) may be worn as follows:

1. Thanksgiving – November 15th through November 30th

2. Holidays – December 1st through January 1st

3. Valentine’s Day – 7 days prior to February 14th

4. July 4th – 7 days prior to the holiday

5. Halloween – 7 days prior to October 31st