Section 4-513. PERSONAL APPEARANCE GUIDELINES

 

513.1It shall be considered a violation of Title I of the Act to discriminate against any individual on the basis of outward appearance for purposes of recruitment, hiring, or promotion. However, an employer may prescribe standards of appearance or dress for personnel which serve a reasonable business purpose; for example, to identify its employees to the public by means of a distinctive uniform, or to maintain a neat and clean appearance.

 

513. 2An employer may also prescribe standards of appearance or dress for personnel in order to prevent a danger to the health, welfare, or safety of employees or customers; for example, requiring head or hand coverings in food service jobs, or prohibiting loose items of clothing in jobs where the items become caught in machinery.

 

513.3Characteristics such as hair or dress style may be symbolic of race, national origin, or religion, and action to limit or prevent their use shall constitute a form of discrimination, unless the employer can show a reasonable business purpose.

 

source

Final Rulemaking published at 56 DCR 006029 (July 31, 2009).