AQHA’s dress code is revised frequently to reflect changes in styles and attitudes and is designed to stress discretion. You should submit suggestions for changes to your supervisor.
All employees should dress in a businesslike manner. You should avoid wearing clothing that is too casual or attracts unusual attention. The style, color, etc. of an employee’s clothing is the individual employee’s choice. However, the overall appearance should conform to what is normally expected to be found in a professional business establishment. Any apparel which tends to attract undue attention is unsuitable for the office.
Women’s Apparel
In general, businesslike apparel for women includes: dress; suit; pants suit; skirt; dress pants; blouse/sweater; colored jeans (other than blue denim) such as Rockies, etc.; sundress with jacket; decorated T-shirt worn with coordinating outfit; dress shoes or boots. Women are expected to wear proper undergarments. Hose are not required. Socks may be worn with pants only. Capri pants may be worn as long as they come below the knee.
Split skirts will be allowed under the same guidelines as regular skirts as long as the skirt is full enough to give the appearance of being a skirt. Walking shorts are acceptable as long as they are reasonable in length.
Men’s Apparel
Likewise, men’s businesslike attire includes: business suit; dress pants and sport coat; dress shirt; tie; dress shoes or boots. Men are expected to wear socks, (no bare feet). Men are not required to wear coat and tie in the office. Mock turtleneck shirts may be worn on any workday. Further, businesslike attire does not include ponytails or earrings for men.
Men and women alike should be sure that shoes and boots are clean and polished. Pant legs should not be worn tucked inside the tops of boots.
Apparel that is considered unsuitable for office attire may be worn when traveling to or from work. However, employees should change into appropriate businesslike clothing upon arrival at work.
Every Friday the Association recognizes Casual Day. On Casual Day, all employees are allowed to wear blue denim jeans. Also allowed are the following types of jeans: stone washed, acid washed, flame washed, etc. as long as they look good.
Please use good judgement and do not wear faded, holey, frayed or torn jeans. In addition to blue denim jeans, you may wear long-sleeved t-shirts, “henleys” and sweatshirts on Fridays provided they are neat and in good taste and condition. You are encouraged to wear AQHA-logoed products when wearing these items.
Employees may wear clothing suitable for Friday casual day on snow days. Blue jeans, long-sleeved T-shirts and sweatshirts will be acceptable. This policy will apply to the day it snows and any days following when travel is difficult because snow and ice remain on the roads/ground.
Employees working in the Operations and Distribution Services department and in the Publications Production department may wear clothing and shoes suitable to the type of work performed. Tennis shoes may be worn in Operations and Distribution Services with the following restrictions:
Tennis shoes must be kept neat and clean
Tennis shoes must be laced and tied at all times
Tennis shoes must be worn with socks
If an employee’s shoes are found unsuitable, s/he will be sent home to change without pay
It will be up to the supervisor to decide if a pair of tennis shoes is suitable for the office
However, if the employee is visible to customers, visitors, etc. while performing the duties of his/her job, the apparel should reflect a more businesslike manner.
Employees are reminded that along with appearance goes one’s personal hygiene. Attention to cleanliness of clothing and body is as important as one’s choice of attire.
From time to time, staff members may be in the office before departing on AQHA business trips. For this reason, there may be times when they may not conform to the dress policy.
Management reserves the right to determine the acceptability of any article of clothing. Employees who are inappropriately attired may be sent home without pay to change.
These specific articles of clothing are not acceptable in the office:
1. Overalls; painter pants; jumpsuits; knickers; sweat pants; wind pants; leg warmers
2. Shower shoes/thongs; leather thongs; jogging shoes; tennis shoes (of any color or material)
3. Halter top; shirt, dress or top with printed message, picture, etc.; tank top (knit sweater or other material with scooped neckline and arm holes); T-shirt (unless worn with a coordinating outfit such as under a jumper or with a vest or jacket); midriff blouse or top
4. Miniskirt (to be acceptable in the business office, a dress or skirt should be reasonable in length and not draw undue attention to the wearer)
5. “Letter” jacket (designed for athletic merit, advertisement, etc.); sweatshirt jacket; warmup jacket
6. Any article of clothing which is too faded, too stained, too ragged, dirty or wrinkled.
