EDMONTON - Showing up to work dressed as Superman sounds like fun, but the blue spandex and red cape might not fly so well with your boss.
Halloween, a creative and cathartic time of the year, usually means wearing as much makeup or as little clothing as you want without consequence. But for some big workplaces, there are guidelines that must be followed before your inch-thick Frankenstein makeup and skimpy maid costume make an appearance at the water cooler.
According to Chris Gerritsen, senior communications manager for Telus, there isn?t a written rule that dictates what is and isn?t appropriate for the office. Instead, it?s more of an unwritten agreement that employees use common sense and wear Halloween attire that doesn?t affect their jobs.
?For some, [Halloween] is the most wonderful time of the year,? Gerritsen says. ?We allow costumes, of course, as long as they?re appropriate,? and as long as they don?t interfere with a worker?s ability to do his or her job, he adds.
Safety is Telus? main concern when it comes to dressing up for Halloween. Gerritsen notes that installers and repair technicians are not allowed to wear costumes because loose material from Batman capes, for example, might interfere with safe driving or climbing.
?Safety first, because we?ve got a fairly rigorous and comprehensive safety policy,? Gerritsen explains. ?Our team needs to work in a safe environment in appropriate, approved attire for the job so they don?t put themselves or others at risk of injury.?
Otherwise, Gerritsen says office employees are welcome ? and sometimes encouraged ? to dress up in a giant chicken suit, as long as they keep things professional and classy.
He says there are even branches of the company that go all out, decorating their spaces with ghoulish accessories.
?Each area of Telus decides for themselves what events they?ll have,? Gerritsen says, adding Halloween activities can be team builders that boost office morale. ?So it?s often used as a fun-filled activity day filled with costumes and prizes. It lets them let loose a little bit.?
Tim le Riche, external communications supervisor for Epcor, says employees are allowed to dress up at work, but he cannot recall anybody doing so over the past few years.
The office doesn?t usually hold any Halloween-inspired activities. However, Epcor?s costume guidelines are similar to Telus? in that common sense and safety prevail if employees choose to partake in the festivities.
?Overall, the number 1 corporate policy is safety,? le Riche says. ?Obviously, there are operational staff, such as line men and water operators that simply cannot wear Halloween costumes while on duty. And as for the rest, although it is permissible, there are some rules.?
Any kind of ?sexy? outfit is prohibited, as well as politically incorrect costumes, he says. Any kind of revealing flapper girl dress or distasteful garb must be left at home.
?First of all, it can?t be offensive,? le Riche says. ?And second, we obviously insist that our staff do their jobs and be productive. So if people choose to do some kind of Halloween dress up, they?re permitted to do that as long as they continue to do their job as expected and it?s not offensive to anyone.?
At Telus, racy costumes are also not permitted. Only costumes that are respectful are allowed. According to Gerritsen, some office-appropriate costumes for call centre agents, for example, include zombies, pirates and superheroes.
?Let?s say they?re wearing a mask, for example. They may not be able to see the computer screen very well,? Gerritsen says. ?So it?s a lot of common sense. If our call centre agent is speaking with a customer, as long as they can be understood and they can be heard and you don?t have prosthetic teeth in there or anything like that prevents you from doing your job properly, then I?m sure it would be fine.?
In the sales department, Telus employees are encouraged to check with their manager about their costume beforehand. They must also be aware of the clients or customers they may be meeting that day.
For Gerritsen and le Riche, it all comes down to knowing your workplace standards and what?s appropriate for your daily work schedule.
?But then again, if someone wears a Calgary Flames jersey, that could be considered inappropriate,? Gerritsen jokes. ?It?s hard to say, but common sense should always prevail.?
aash@edmontonjournal.com
Twitter.com/AmandaAsh
? Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
Source: http://feeds.canada.com/~r/canwest/F264/~3/3vxlXPVSUOI/story.html
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