Personal Appearance

Dress, grooming, and personal cleanliness standards contribute to the morale of all employees and volunteer members and affect the professional image Sni Valley presents to patrons and visitors.

During business hours or when representing Sni Valley, you are expected to present a clean, neat, and tasteful appearance. You should dress and groom yourself according to the requirements of your position and accepted social standards.

If your Captain of Chief Officer feels your personal appearance is inappropriate, you may be asked to leave the workplace until you are properly dressed or groomed. Under such circumstance, you will not be compensated for the time away from work. Consult your Captain if you have questions as to what constitutes appropriate appearance. Where necessary, reasonable accommodation may be made to a person with a disability.

Hair must be kept well groomed and neat at all times. The length of hair cannot extend below the collar of a Class B style shirt. The hair cannot extend below the midpoint of the ear. The front of the hair must maintained as not to interfere with the seal integrity of an SCBA face piece. The hair on the head can be kept as short as the employee desires, however, if the majority of the head is shaved, then the entire head has to be shaved also.

Hair cuts or personal grooming styles are varied and wide. While it is not the intent of this policy to dictate or specify what type of hair style is acceptable, it is in the best interest of the employee and the District to maintain a high professional image. Hair styles that may be extreme or otherwise classified as nonprofessional in accepted professional community, may be evaluated and either approved or disapproved. Sculpturing of hair is not allowed. An example would be if in an individual has their hair cut very short around the hair line and the resto of the hair is allowed to be at a greater length. If an employee chooses to have a curl type hair style, the length shall be maintained in a professional manner, within the guidelines of this policy. Hair color must be kept natural or in a natural color. Hair color other than a natural color will not be acceptable. Facial hair can also take away from the safety and the professionalism of the employee if it is not maintained in a proper fashion. Mustaches must be kept well trimmed and neat at all times. The length of the mustache cannot extend below a point, one-half inch below the corner of the mouth. Handlebar mustaches, goatees, or the like will be unacceptable. To help prevent failure of an SCBA face piece seal, no beards will be permitted.

Without unduly restricting individual tastes, the following personal appearance guidelines should be followed:

* Hairstyles are expected to be in good taste. * Cosmetics can be used by an employees but it shall be conservative and in good taste. * Offensive body odor and poor personal hygiene is not professionally acceptable. Perfume, cologne, and after shave lotions should be used moderately or avoided altogether, some individuals may be sensitive to strong fragrances. * Facial jewelry, such as eyebrow rings, nose rings, lip rings, and tongue studs, is not professionally appropriate and must not be worn on-duty. * Sideburns shall not extend below the bottom of the ear. * Torso body piercings with visible jewelry or jewelry that can be seen through or under clothingmust not be worn on-duty. * Visible tattoos and similar body art must be covered on-duty.* No exposed chains or earrings will be allowed for any uniformed employee. * Shift employees who because of an illness cannot shave their facial hair shall be removed from duty.* The employee may wear the official IAFF Identification Pin if desired. The only location of the pin , when worn, shall be centered 1/4" above the name bar on the Class B uniform shirt.

Policy No.  705  Issued  6/29/2000  Applicable  7/26/2006