PERSONNEL                                                                                                          43-02-004

                                                                                               

 

DRESS CODE POLICY

(Divisional)

POLICY STATEMENT:

 

The Division of Veterans Health Care Services requires that each of the New Jersey State Veterans Homes establish a uniform dress code for employees that is appropriate to their job function, and for the safe, proper and efficient discharge of their duties, and that the individual’s personal appearance upholds the respect, trust and confidence of our State’s citizens.

 

PURPOSE: 

 

This policy and procedure serves to ensure that each of the New Jersey State Veterans Homes implements and enforces a Facility Dress Code Policy that delineates what shall be the acceptable and appropriate standard of dress and personal appearance of employees and others who serve the Homes.  All employees are expected to dress in a manner that is appropriate to their job function, that ensures the safety of the residents, and that promotes courtesy, consideration, and respect for the residents and their family/visitors. Clothing must be neat, clean and appropriately fitting.

   

PROCEDURE:

 

A:  State Veterans Homes:

 

The New Jersey State Veterans Homes shall establish and enforce a uniform dress code policy that sets forth the acceptable standard of dress and personal appearance.  Facility Departments that do not have a specific employee dress code guideline shall fall under the auspices of "all other employees" and shall be guided by the standards established for other departments when attempting to ascertain what is "appropriate."

 

GUIDELINES:

 

A.  Nursing Services: Head Nurses, Graduate Nurses, and Licensed Practical Nurses:

 

                        1.         Woman's Uniform:

 

a.         White or colored scrub uniform, white uniform dress or pant suit.  No jeans of any type.

 

b.         Dresses/skirts are not permitted to be more than two (2) inches above the knee.

 

c.         Lab-type/scrub jackets may be worn with at-least ankle-length nursing slacks and tops.

 

Lab-type/scrub jackets are acceptable, but may not have any phrase, logo, picture or graffiti. 

 

                                                New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home shirts distributed by

DMAVA are acceptable.  Sweat Shirts/Pants are prohibited.

 

d.         Jewelry is limited to wristwatch, wedding band or other small type finger-ring and small post-type earrings.

 

                                    e.         Fingernails are to be fingertip length, clean, and free of debris.

 

f.          Hair is to be pulled away from the face and secured during resident care/ treatment/ meal times.

 

g.         Stockings/socks and white closed-toe nursing shoes or an all white, low cut, closed-toe, leather or leather-type sneaker. 

 

h.                   Staff members shall be required to wear an easily readable,

Facility-approved nametag, which is to be worn at all times while on duty.

 

                        2.         Men's Uniform:

 

a.         White sleeved and collared shirt, white or colored scrub top or tunic top.

 

b.                   Scrub uniform, colored scrub uniform or white trousers; no jeans

of any type.

 

c.         New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home shirts distributed by DMAVA are acceptable. Sweat Shirts/Pants are prohibited.

 

d.         Jewelry is limited to wristwatch, wedding band or other small type finger-ring and small post-type earrings.

 

                                    e.         Fingernails are to be fingertip length, clean, and free of debris.

 

f.          Hair is to be pulled away from the face and secured during resident care/ treatment/ meal times.

 

g.         Stockings/socks and white closed-toe nursing shoes or an all white, low cut, closed-toe, leather or leather-type sneaker. 

 

                                    h.         Moustache and beard must be neatly trimmed and groomed.

 

g.                   Staff members shall be required to wear an easily readable,

Facility-approved nametag, which is to be worn at all times while on duty.

   

 

 

B.                 Human Service Technicians/Assistants (Certified Nurses Assistants/Aides):

 

1.                   Woman's Uniform:

a.         Solid colored or printed tops, solid colored pants, lab-type scrubs, pant suit or scrub set.  Black is not acceptable.  No jeans of any type.

 

b.         Dresses/skirts are not permitted to be more than two (2) inches above the knee.

 

c.         Solid color or printed lab-type/scrub jackets may be worn; but may not have any phrase, logo, picture or graffiti. Black is not acceptable.

 

d.         New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home shirts distributed by DMAVA are acceptable.  Sweat Shirts/Pants are prohibited.

 

e.         Jewelry is limited to wristwatch, wedding band or other small type finger-ring and small post-type earrings.

 

                                    f.          Fingernails are to be fingertip length, clean, and free of debris.

 

g.         Hair is to be pulled away from the face and secured during resident care/ treatment/ meal times.

 

h.         Stockings/socks and white closed-toe nursing shoes or an all white, low cut, closed-toe, leather or leather-type sneaker.

 

i.                     Staff members shall be required to wear an easily readable,

Facility-approved nametag, which is to be worn at all times while on duty.

 

                        2.         Men's Uniform:

a.         Solid colored or printed top.  Solid colored pants or scrub set.  Black is not acceptable.  No jeans of any type. 

 

b.         Solid color, lab-type scrub jackets may be worn, but may not have any phrase, logo, picture or graffiti. Black is not acceptable.

 

c.         New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home shirts distributed by DMAVA are acceptable.  Sweat Shirts/Pants are prohibited.

 

d.         Jewelry is limited to wristwatch, wedding band or other small type finger-ring and small post-type earrings.

 

                                    e.         Fingernails are to be fingertip length, clean, and free of debris.

 

f.          Hair is to be pulled away from the face and secured during resident care/ treatment/ meal times.

 

g.         Stockings/socks and white closed-toe nursing shoes or an all white, low cut, closed-toe, leather or leather-type sneaker.

 

                                    h.         Mustache and beard must be neatly trimmed and groomed.

 

i.          Staff members shall be required to wear an easily readable,

Facility-approved nametag, which is to be worn at all times while on duty.

 

C.                 Head Cooks, Cooks, Supervisors of Area Operations, Senior Food Service Workers and/or Handlers, Food Servers.

 

                        1.         General Requirements:

 

a.         White dress/skirt, pants, or pantsuit.  Jeans, sweat shirts/pants of any form are prohibited.

 

b.         White tops are to be worn.  Sweatshirts are prohibited.

 

c.         Uniforms are not to have any phrase, logo, picture or graffiti.

                       

d.         New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home shirts distributed by DMAVA are acceptable.  Sweat Shirts/Pants are prohibited.

 

e.         Jewelry is limited to wristwatch, wedding band or other small type finger-ring and small post-type earrings.

 

                                    f.          Fingernails are to be fingertip length, clean, and free of debris.

 

g.         Effective hair restraints to prevent the contamination of food:  White with no logos, chef hats, sea caps, or hairnets are to be worn.  Service personnel shall take steps necessary to keep hair from food and food contact surfaces; therefore, beard nets may be required for employees with facial hair.  Hats, headbands, scarves, bandanas, etc… are prohibited.

 

h.                   Closed-toe, flat, non-skid shoe or boot is required.

 

i.                     Staff members shall be required to wear an easily readable, Facility-approved nametag, which is to be worn at all times while on duty.

 

 

2.      Supervisors of Area Operations, Senior Food Service Workers/Handlers and Food Servers

 

            a.  Women Uniforms

 

1.       All white dress or pant suit, or black pants (uniform style) with white top (scrub style).

 

2.       Dresses/skirts are not permitted to be more than two (2) inches above the knee.

 

3.       No tank tops or sleeveless shirts.

 

4.       Closed-toe shoe or low cut, closed-toe, leather or leather-type sneaker – skid-resistant.

 

b.  Men’s Uniform:

 

1.       White shirt with collar, 4” sleeve only.  No jeans of any type.

 

2.       No tee shirts of any type, no sleeveless shirts or tank tops permitted.

 

3.  White pants and shirt with collar, uniform style only.  No  

     logos or sweat pants.

 

Or

 

Black uniform style pants – white shirt with collar, 4” sleeve.  No pocket tee shirts.

 

4.   Work boot or closed-toe, leather or leather-type sneaker –

       skid-resistant.

           

3.  Head Cooks and Cooks:

 

            a.  Women’s Uniform

 

1.       All white dress/pant suit, or black uniform-style pant with white scrub-style shirt.

 

2.       Dresses/skirts are not permitted to be more than two (2) inches above the knee.

 

3.       Closed-toe shoe or low cut, closed-toe, leather or leather-type sneaker – skid-resistant.

 

b.  Men’s Uniform:

 

1.       White pants and white shirt.  No jeans of any type.

 

2.   No tee shirts of any type, no sleeveless shirts or tank tops 

permitted.

                                         Or

 

3.  Black uniform style pants, white shirt with collar, 4”sleeve.

 

4.       Closed-toe, flat, skid-resistant, leather or leather-type shoe.

           

            D.        Maintenance and Housekeeping Departments:

 

1.         Loose or flowing shirts, blouses, pants, skirts, dresses or hanging or dangling jewelry are not appropriate and pose a safety hazard for personnel operating machinery.

 

2.                   Closed-toe and closed-heel flat shoes must be worn. Sneakers, soft shoes, slippers, sandals, high-heels or flip-flops are not permitted.

 

3.                   Staff members shall be required to wear an easily readable, Facility-

approved nametag, which is to be worn at all times while on duty.

 

            E.         General Considerations for all employees

 

1.         Employees are required to wear clothes appropriate to their job function.  Shorts, undershirts, t-shirts, tank tops, bare mid-drifts or shirts worn unbuttoned are prohibited.  Headbands, caps, bandanas, etc… are also prohibited… see examples of inappropriate attire.

 

2.         Every employee is required to wear footwear that provides protection necessary in the performance of his or her duties.  Footwear should not interfere with the ability of the employee to respond to hazards and/or emergencies in the work place.  Open-toed shoes, sandals, flip-flops, or slippers, etc., are prohibited.

 

3.                   Staff members shall be required to wear an easily readable Facility-

approved nametag that must be worn at all times while on duty.

 

 

 

Note:  Exceptions may be granted, as approved by the appointing authority, for special events held at the Facility.  Employees may be required to dress according to their role for the special occasion.

 

Inappropriate Attire:  In order to maintain a professional workplace, certain clothing will be considered inappropriate to conduct business at DMAVA.

 

Examples of inappropriate clothing in a professional workplace environment:

 

·         T-shirts or any shirt with political messages or foul, offensive and/or crude language, expressions or images, “statement” t-shirts, “logo” t-shirts, or advertising t-shirts (New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home shirts distributed by DMAVA are acceptable)

·         Tank tops, halter tops or tube tops

·         Shorts of any type

·         Micro-mini skirts or micro-mini dresses

·         Hi-top sneakers; house slippers or bedroom slippers

·         “Flip-flops,” beach or pool shoes

·         Sweat suits or sweatshirts/sweatpants, or other exercise attire

·         Hats, visors or caps worn indoors

·         Clothing that is ragged, torn, cut, frayed, or otherwise having holes, or that is in poor repair or dirty

·         Garments which are excessively tight or revealing

·         Undergarments worn as outerwear

·         Jeans of any type or color

 

NOTE:  If an employee is unsure whether a particular piece of attire is appropriate, he or she should not wear that particular article of clothing.

 

Consequences for wearing unacceptable attire:

Manager/ Supervisor/ Department Head responsibilities:  This policy requires the managers/ supervisors/ department heads to ensure that employees adhere to the guidelines set forth.

 

If an employee comes to work dressed inappropriately, the manager/ supervisor/ department head shall be required to:

·         Provide the employee with written counseling at the first violation.

·         Send the employee home with instructions to change into appropriate work attire.

·         The employee will be given one hour to report back to work in appropriate work attire.  

·         If the employee does not return to work within one hour, the additional time shall be charged to vacation or administrative leave balances.

 

 

Subsequent offenses shall be subject to the provisions of the DMAVA Corrective and Disciplinary Action Booklet.  E.1. Violation of a rule, regulation, policy, procedure, order, or administrative decision.

 

Senior Management Staff who observe unacceptable attire worn by an employee must bring it to the attention of designated management staff for appropriate action. 

 

If senior staff finds that managers and supervisors fail to act on inappropriate dress code attire, they shall take appropriate disciplinary action against the manager/supervisor for failing to properly administer the Department’s dress code.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVISED:  April 2006