Guest guest Posted August 9, 2004 Report Share Posted August 9, 2004 Do these body art items affect their ability to do the job? I'd surely run anything by your legal department! If they were hired with the knowledge that they have it and it now the rules are changing, you will need a good reason. What are the officers and firefighters allowed to wear at your agency? Just a few thoughts kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2004 Report Share Posted August 9, 2004 a lawyer would have a field day Kim. You can distinguish between men and women's jewelry. As for the tattoos, if it is religious in nature, I could see someone squaking too. It's a shame we have to have so many written rules and that people just don't know what appropriate is, a few folks have made life a real joy huh? good thread - interesting responses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2004 Report Share Posted August 9, 2004 We do... Our road personnel cant wear them because of safety issues and along with dispatch and office being unprofessional according our uniform policy. Basically if we can see them, they have to to be removed, unless single post earrings and no hoops of course. It depends on he agency, but ours is no. > Does any agency have policies concerning body jewelry such as eyebrow > rings > and so forth. If you have any policies regarding this I would like to > have > any information that you may have. We have a new hire that likes to > have > his eyebrow ring in and others in the agency has said something about > it not > looking appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2004 Report Share Posted August 9, 2004 A human Resources nightmare and a lawyers dream! Some other points of view: Personally, I don't care for all the body armor people are getting, but how often does the public meet face to face with us? Is it really necessary to go as far as restricting it in this setting? Is the person a good employee? If so, are you willing to lose them, because some of the people I know that wear it, are more likely to quit than give it up. Taste and moderation are the key words here. Is it presenting a danger to themselves or others. If you have uniforms and such, you might have more luck. But as already mentioned, if you try to establish a dress policy at this point, you might be facing an uphill battle. You are basically singling this person out, and any lawyer work their weight in gold would jump on it. Second, if the policy is being looked at because some of the other co-workers are saying something about it, why is the agency taking their side and not backing this other person up? I don't like the fact that some of the woman I work with use an excessive amount of perfume. I also may not like the fact that some of the guys have full beards, I don't think THAT is appropriate. Is it appropriate that the agency says beards are not permitted now? I suspect that the people who have been there may not care for the new person and are trying to instigate something. I don't see how the man's appearance affects his job performance. Or maybe they are scared he might turn out to be a good employee? > Does any agency have policies concerning body jewelry such as > eyebrow rings and so forth. If you have any policies > regarding this I would like to have any information that you > may have. We have a new hire that likes to have his eyebrow > ring in and others in the agency has said something about it > not looking appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2004 Report Share Posted August 9, 2004 From our policy manual, PER-03 (Personal Appearance and Grooming): This answers more than you asked but I thought others might find it interesting. We also have a policy on tattoos and it also mentions piercing again. I've added that as well. E. Jewelry 1. All jewelry shall be modest and conservatively styled. Officers may wear two rings per hand and one watch. Wedding sets are considered one ring. 2. Exposed neck jewelry is prohibited while in uniform. 3. No insignia, except that authorized by the Chief of Police, shall be worn on the uniform. 4. Female sworn personnel may wear conservative, clip-on, pierced or loop earrings. Earrings shall be spherical in gold, white pearl or diamond and shall not exceed 6 mm or one-half (1/2) inch in diameter. When worn, earrings shall fit snugly against the ear and shall be worn as a matched pair with a limit of one earring per ear lobe. 5. Male sworn personnel, excluding undercover officers, may not wear earrings. 6. No employee shall be permitted to wear any type of jewelry in the nose, eyebrow, lip, chin or any other exposed portion of the body other than the ear as described above. 7. If wearing the optional necktie, only one tie tack/bar may be worn. H. Tattoos/Body Art 1. Exposed body art, tattooing or brands are inconsistent with the professional image this organization has attempted to foster within our community. The public display of body piercing (see section II, E. above), tattoos, body art, or brands on the head, face, or neck while on duty is strictly prohibited. Personnel with visible tattoos, body art, brands, or body piercing on the head, face, or neck shall be required to cover such displays while on duty. Further, personnel with excessive and/or offensive tattoos on any other exposed body part, such as the arm, shall be required to cover such displays while on duty except as mentioned below. Acceptable covering shall consist of a long-sleeve uniform shirt for uniformed personnel and/or a long-sleeve dress shirt for non-uniformed personnel. 2. Excessive and/or offensive shall be defined by a subcommittee of the Uniform Committee. Personnel wishing to obtain a tattoo, body art, or brand that may be considered questionable may submit a picture/diagram of the proposed tattoo, body art, or brand to the subcommittee for review. a. Generally, any tattoo, body art, or brand that covers more than 1/3 of the exposed body part shall be considered excessive. b. Offensive shall generally be defined as any tattoo, body art, or brand that could be considered vulgar, indecent, or racially biased. 3. Department personnel who have or have had exposed tattoos, body art, or brands on or prior to July 7, 2003 shall be granted a waiver of the above regulations. 4. Personnel requesting a waiver shall document their tattoos and send said documentation to the subcommittee for approval and inclusion in a file maintained by the committee. 5. Personnel who have requested a waiver from the subcommittee and has had that tattoo, body art, or brand denied may appeal the decision to the Chief of Police as is outlined by the grievance procedure. 6. In no way shall this policy be used to eliminate candidates from employment with the Chattanooga Police Department nor shall it be intended to eliminate freedom of expression of any employee present or future. Newly hired personnel may submit documentation of their tattoos, body art, or brands to the Uniform Committee for approval as outlined above. Prospective employees shall be notified of department policy regarding this issue prior to any offer of employment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 I'm going to side with Fisher in that I'm not a big fan of people having all of the metal sticking out of there face. Yes, my agency in Nashville, TN does have a policy concerning body jewelry in our grooming standards. We've pretty much adopted a military appearance policy. Women can have one set of matching earings (one in each lobe.) Men are not permitted to wear any. All other facial piercings are prohibited. asked if there were a safety issue. Personally, I seen none but from a professional standpoint I don't like tongue piercings because it often interferes with the way a person talks. <ducking from all of the tomatoes being thrown> I know it doesn't affect the way EVERYBODY who has a tongue piercing talks...there's always exceptions to the rule. But let's face it...we talk for a living. If an agency is in uniform like we are (Collared navy blue shirt complete with badge, patches, service hashmarks, nameplates and collar insignia, navy blue pants, black belt and black shoes or boots) then I can agree with the standard. I guess my views come from my military background. Trust me, I'd LOVE to be permitted to have a goatee or a beard (neatly trimmed and groomed of course) but I'm not allowed & even if I were, I wouldn't be seen in uniform with it. > Does any agency have policies concerning body jewelry such as eyebrow rings > and so forth. If you have any policies regarding this I would like to have > any information that you may have. We have a new hire that likes to have > his eyebrow ring in and others in the agency has said something about it not > looking appropriate. Hal Weese Nashville, TN These are my opinions only, not those of my agency's. For liability reasons, my posts and my opinions are just that...an opinion, and not to be reprinted without my express permission. I frequent this group merely to share ideas & experience with others and hopefully gain knowledge and insight from others involved in my profession so that I may better myself and perhaps introduce new ideas to my own agency. I may be contacted off-list at tenseven@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 Which would be fine if the original point was based on a person hired AFTER the policy was in place. This is not the case however. The only thing they can do in the meantime, is institute the policy for future hires or hope the city lawyer can work it over well. > i have to totally agree with on this... I have > tattoos, but when I got them, I kept in mind that I was a > professional and not everyone at my agency is going to have > frog tattoos, so they are in places that can be covered (no > not there). It is a simple solution. > Either you comply with what your employer feels is > professional or you find an employer who shares your views on > professional. > > Danny (who kicks the pot on a regular basis) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2004 Report Share Posted August 11, 2004 Actually it depends on a number of things. Most policies state that the employer reserve the right to update, rescind, or institute new/current policies. And with Michigan being an At-will state, any employer is able to enact policies such as no body jewelry and it effects everyone. However that is Michigan. You should check with your state to verify this information. Current Policies are not meant to be all inclusive, its impossible. > Which would be fine if the original point was based on a person hired > AFTER > the policy was in place. > This is not the case however. The only thing they can do in the > meantime, is > institute the policy for future hires or hope the city lawyer can work > it > over well. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2004 Report Share Posted August 11, 2004 >Most policies state that the employer reserve the right to update, rescind, or institute new/current policies.< Interesting, and I'd bet that most policies state exactly that, if so you'd have very little to go on with a legal action... as long as the change was department wide. Weintraut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.