To balance the desire for fun and the necessity of maintaining a respectful, safe work environment, the following costume guidelines have been adopted forvisitors, staff members, volunteers, and students working and/or studying within the UI Health Care organization.

While this list should not be considered all encompassing, the following constitutes guidelines for apparel to be avoided when dressing for a holiday occasion.

Costume apparel to avoid:

• Masks or other full face coverings that cause staff to be unrecognizable
• Costumes depicting monsters, death, controversial political figures, or other frightening characters
• Items resembling guns or weapons, costumes which promote harmful stereotypes, including those on the basis of race, creed (religion), color, national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity
• Costumes that are of a revealing nature that would not be considered acceptable under normal work circumstances
• Unclean or soiled clothing items not in keeping with hospital epidemiology guidelines

As always, staff must wear their ID badges without attachments and with picture and name visible at all times while on duty.

Supervisors and managers who believe a costume is inappropriate to the work area or patient population being served will have the responsibility to ensure that the staff member, student or volunteer change into more appropriate work attire before returning to the work place.

References:

• Policy on Human Rights
• Ul Hospitals and Clinics Infection Control Manual (Internal access only)