SOP_NUMBER: 104.48
TITLE: Appearance and Dress
REFERENCE_CODE: IVO14-0005
DIVISION: Administrative & Finance
TOPIC_AREA: 104 Policy-HR Appearance/Conduct/Evaluations
EFFECTIVE_DATE: 2016-10-05
WORD_COUNT: 1492
POWERDMS_URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/105281
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/104.48/

SUMMARY:
This policy establishes dress code standards for all Georgia Department of Corrections employees, both uniformed and non-uniformed staff. Non-uniformed employees are required to wear Business Casual Attire as standard, with Business Attire required for external representations and formal meetings, and Casual Attire permitted on Fridays. The policy prohibits revealing clothing, offensive graphics, and inappropriate appearance while also addressing restrictions on wearing uniforms or identifying GDC apparel in off-duty situations that could reflect negatively on the Department.

KEY_TOPICS: appearance and dress, dress code, business casual, business attire, casual attire, uniformed employees, non-uniformed employees, professional appearance, clothing standards, uniform restrictions, off-duty conduct, inappropriate apparel, revealing clothing, supervisor enforcement

ATTACHMENTS:
  1. GDC Casual Dress Guidelines
     URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/104.48-att-1/

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FULL TEXT:
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|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|
|**Policy Number:** 104.48|**Effective Date:** 10/05/2016|Page**1** of**5**|
|**Authority:** <br>Bryson/Poitevint|**Originating Division:**  <br>Administration Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



**I.** **Introduction and Summary:** It is the policy of the Georgia Department of
Corrections to have an established policy on Appearance and Dress that applies to all
employees, allows for the projection of an appropriate business image in the
performance of job duties and outlines appropriate apparel for uniformed and nonuniformed employees. This policy also serves as notice that non-uniformed
employees should not dress in a manner deemed to be excessively casual, overly
provocative or revealing.


**II.** **Authority:**

GDC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs):

1. 104.47 Employee Standards of Conduct
2. 205.03 Personal Appearance for Uniformed Personnel (Facilities Operations)


**III.** **Definitions:**

A. Non-uniformed employees: Persons employed by the Department who are not

required to wear agency-issued clothing, insignia, or other distinguished attire in
performance of an assigned duty.

B. Uniformed employees: Persons employed by the Department who are required to

wear a uniform, insignia, or other forms of clothing issued or directed for
purchase and wear in performance of an assigned duty.

C. Appointing Authorities: Wardens and individuals specifically designated by the

Commissioner.


**IV.** **Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:**

Employees working in the Department’s facilities or offices will dress as follows:

A. Non-Uniformed Employees:

1. The standard dress for non-uniformed employees is **Business Casual**

**Attire** (see Attachment 1).

2. Any non-uniformed employee who represents the Department externally

or at a formal internal presentation should dress in **Business Attire** (see
Attachment 1) unless it is unsuitable for the occasion. For instance,
business attire would be just as inappropriate for a ceremony held outside
in the summer as casual attire would be for a legislative hearing, meeting
at another agency or formal briefing to the Commissioner or the Board.

**Business Attire** is required to be worn by senior staff members (see note
below) on days the Corrections Board is meeting in Forsyth.


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|
|**Policy Number:** 104.48|**Effective Date:** 10/05/2016|Page**2** of**5**|
|**Authority:** <br>Bryson/Poitevint|**Originating Division:**  <br>Administration Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



**Note:** The term senior staff, as used above, refers to the Chief of
Staff, Assistant Commissioners, Executive Counsel, Director of
Public and Governmental Affairs, Human Resources Director,
Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Budget Officer, Chief
Procurement Officer, Chief Information Technology Officer, and
Chief of Engineering/Construction Services. For the purpose of
these guidelines, it also refers to those support staff whose location
is in the Commissioner’s office suite. Also, members of the senior
staff, on days when they are attired in Business Casual Attire, are
expected to have readily available the clothing required to change
into Business Attire when required.

3. **Casual Attire** (see Attachment 1) may be worn by non-uniformed staff on

Fridays. Staff working 10-Hour Days may dress in Casual Attire on
Thursday if this is their last work day of the week.


4. **Dressing in a manner more formal than the normal attire of the day**

**will not be grounds for disciplinary actions.**

5. **Revealing shirts, blouses, skirts, slacks or dresses are prohibited.**

6. **All shirts must be appropriate for the work environment and will not**

**include language or graphics that are vulgar, sexually explicit, or may**
**otherwise be offensive. Employees may not wear shirts with the logo**
**of another agency, for-profit corporation or non-profit.**

7. Supervisors must ensure that employees dress appropriately for assigned

work duties. Appointing Authorities may make routine exceptions to the
required dress attire where the attire would not be conducive to an
employee’s assigned work site or duties. The Appointing Authority must
designate dress attire exceptions in writing and establish the acceptable
attire standards. Work sites that may require an exception include a file
room, mailroom, warehouse operations, computer
installation/repair/troubleshooting, construction, maintenance, or farm
operations.

8. There are occasions when management must solicit the assistance of the

workforce in accomplishing certain manual tasks at the work site for
special needs situations such as “spring cleaning” or moving. On these
occasions, the Appointing Authority may approve a deviation from nonbusiness/business casual attire.


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|
|**Policy Number:** 104.48|**Effective Date:** 10/05/2016|Page**3** of**5**|
|**Authority:** <br>Bryson/Poitevint|**Originating Division:**  <br>Administration Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



9. Non-uniformed employees shall not appear to be identifiable to the public

as GDC employees (visible badge on belt, GDC-logo shirt or other
apparel) in the following situations:

a. Performing duties as a private security or police officer not
officially required by the Department;

b. Purchasing or consuming alcoholic beverages of any type- on or
off duty- in any public establishment or establishment in which the
general public has regular or routine access;

c. Consuming or transporting alcoholic beverages in any vehicle at
any time; and

d. Attending or participating in any activity that might, even by
misinterpretation, bring discredit to the Department if identified as
a GDC employee.


**NOTE: This is not intended to apply to any Departmental**
**Employee- on duty – verifying whereabouts, employment, or**
**other status of an offender.**

10. Supervisors must monitor and control work units to ensure employees

maintain a professional appearance each day. Supervisors at all levels
should enforce this policy and take appropriate measures when necessary
to ensure compliance.

B. Uniformed Employees:

1. Maintenance personnel, food services personnel, truck drivers, security

personnel, tactical squad members, canine handlers, and other designated
personnel must wear department issued uniforms while performing official
duties of the Department.

2. Department personnel will not appear in uniform in the following

situations:

a. When performing as a private security officer or police officer

when those duties are not officially required by the Department;

b. At social or athletic events that are held off Department property

and are not officially sponsored by the Department;

c. When purchasing or transporting alcoholic beverages or other

intoxicants;


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|
|**Policy Number:** 104.48|**Effective Date:** 10/05/2016|Page**4** of**5**|
|**Authority:** <br>Bryson/Poitevint|**Originating Division:**  <br>Administration Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



d. While consuming alcoholic beverages or other intoxicants in

public establishments or in other places where the general public
has regular access; and

e. Attending or participating in any activity that might, even by

misinterpretation, bring discredit to the Department if identified as
a GDC employee.

3. Uniformed employees may not wear insignia, pins, ornaments or decals of

any kind on their uniforms that have not been issued by the Department.

4. Correctional Officers may appear in uniform at ceremonies approved by

their Appointing Authority such as graduations, funerals, and civic events.

5. Neck Ties:

a. Uniformed employees who work in a facility or serve as a detail

officer or transfer officer may wear a neck tie as a part of their
work apparel.

b. Uniformed employees must wear neck ties when attending a

function away from the facility, apart from outside detail duty,
where wearing the uniform is required by the Department, e.g.,
appearing in court as a witness for the Department, serving as part
of an honor guard or any other formal or public ceremony. See
SOP No. 205.03.


**NOTE: Uniformed Employee will comply with SOP 205.03, “Personal**

**Appearance of Uniformed Personnel”.**

C. All Employees:

1. Approved beards and moustaches must be kept neatly trimmed. Fingernails

and hair styles should not be flamboyant in style, shapes, colors or other
features. Hair will be clean, combed and neatly trimmed or styled. The
hairstyle should be appropriate to the work setting and not interfere with the
work to be performed, create a safety hazard, or cause distractions in the work
place.
2. Jewelry and other accessories will be appropriate for the work setting and not

create a safety hazard or cause other distractions.
3. Supervisors at all levels are responsible to maintain the dress standards in this

policy. Appointing Authorities should use this procedure as their base to
establish and maintain acceptable appearance standards.


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|**Policy Name:**Appearance and Dress|
|**Policy Number:** 104.48|**Effective Date:** 10/05/2016|Page**5** of**5**|
|**Authority:** <br>Bryson/Poitevint|**Originating Division:**  <br>Administration Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



4. Appointing Authorities will make reasonable efforts to accommodate an

employee’s written request to wear a garment or ornament required by
religious belief, principle, or tenet that is contrary to this procedure or local
directive. The Appointing Authority will consider health and safety issues and
efficiency of performance regarding accommodation requests. Appointing
Authorities should contact Director, Human Resources and Legal Services
prior to accommodating any request submitted.


**V.** **Attachments:**

Attachment 1 - Attire Standards

**VI.** **Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:** None