Dress Code and Uniform Checklist

Pre-shift dress code and uniform inspection a shift lead or key holder runs at the start of each shift to confirm associates meet the store's appearance standards before they hit the sales floor.

6 sections 15 steps Collects data
1

Pre-Shift Check-In

  1. Log the associate's clock-in time

    • Confirm the associate is clocked in on the workforce app (Homebase, When I Work, 7shifts) before starting the dress-code check. Predictive-scheduling jurisdictions (NYC, Seattle, SF, Oregon, Philadelphia, Chicago) require the shift to match the posted schedule — flag any mismatch to the store manager.

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  2. Confirm the associate's role for the shift

    • Dress code varies by assignment: sales-floor associates wear the front-of-house uniform; stockroom and receiving associates need closed-toe non-slip footwear and may wear branded tees instead of the polo. Visual merchandisers doing a reset wear the stockroom standard.

    Collects list
2

Uniform and Apparel

  1. Verify the branded uniform top

    • Current-season top in the approved color (check the visual guide posted in the BOH for this quarter's palette). Logo placement is left chest. Faded, stained, or out-of-season tops get sent home for change-out — keep two loaner uniforms in the manager's office for emergencies.

  2. Check bottoms against the dress code

    • Approved: dark wash denim (no rips, no distressing), khaki, or black chino. Not approved: athletic wear, leggings worn as pants, ripped denim, shorts above mid-thigh. Tears, fraying hems, or visible stains require change-out before the shift starts.

  3. Confirm the name tag is worn

    • Name tag pinned or magnet-clipped to the upper left chest, name side facing out. Loaner tags are kept at the service desk for associates who forget. Age-restricted sales (alcohol, tobacco) require a visible name tag for compliance audit trails.

    Collects list
3

Footwear and PPE

  1. Inspect closed-toe footwear

    • Closed toe and closed heel, low-profile and dark. Open-toed shoes, sandals, and canvas slip-ons fail the OSHA general-duty footwear standard for retail floors with rolling racks and box cutters in use.

  2. Verify non-slip closed-toe footwear for stockroom

    • Stockroom and receiving roles require non-slip soles per the store safety SOP — pallets, freight liquid spills, and the loading dock surface are common slip hazards. Associates without compliant footwear are reassigned to a sales-floor task for the shift.

    Collects list
  3. Check back-support belt for freight handlers

    • If the associate is on a truck-unload or replenishment shift, confirm they have the back-support belt from the PPE bin. Lifting injuries are the single largest OSHA recordable category in retail stockrooms.

4

Grooming and Hygiene

  1. Check hair is pulled back or styled neatly

    • Shoulder-length-or-longer hair tied back for associates working freight, the fitting room, or any role near rolling racks. Hair color and style otherwise unrestricted per the dress code revision posted Q1.

  2. Confirm fragrances are minimal

    • Heavy perfume or cologne triggers customer complaints in enclosed fitting rooms and at the checkout. The standard is detectable only at arm's length. ADA accommodations for chemical sensitivity have been requested by customers at multiple locations — keep fragrance light.

  3. Verify facial hair is groomed
5

Accessories and Visible Tattoos

  1. Review jewelry for safety hazards

    • Loose bracelets, long necklaces, and large hoop earrings catch on hangers, EAS hard tags, and pallet wrap during freight. Recommend the associate remove or secure anything dangling for shifts involving fitting-room recovery or stock pulls.

  2. Review visible tattoos against policy

    • Current policy: visible tattoos allowed unless they depict profanity, hate symbols, or graphic imagery. If unsure, photograph with the associate's consent and escalate to the store manager before sending the associate home — coverage with a long sleeve is the typical resolution.

    Collects list
6

Sign-Off and Exceptions

  1. Document the dress code exception

    • Capture the exception in the shift log: religious accommodation, ADA accommodation, loaner uniform issued, or escalation pending. Repeated exceptions for the same associate should be routed to HR for a documented accommodation file rather than handled shift-by-shift.

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  2. Record the inspection result

    • Final sign-off by the shift lead or key holder before the associate hits the floor. Photos are optional but recommended for sent-home or loaner-issued outcomes so the district manager can audit consistency across stores.

    Collects list Collects signature Collects image

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Sections 6
Steps 15
Category Retail
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