Pantyhose, underwear not optional in Summa's updated dress code

July 16--If you want to work at Summa Health System, make sure you have natural-looking hair color, a trimmed beard and no visible piercings, other than a maximum two per ear.

Wear pantyhose or tights with skirts and dresses.

Cover tattoos.

And don't even think about going commando.

These are among the rules in the employee dress code updated this week by Summit County's largest employer.

The policy affects all 9,000 employees of the health system, including Akron City, St. Thomas and Barberton hospitals, SummaCare insurance, Summa Physicians Inc., and outpatient facilities.

Additional rules apply to nurses and other direct care providers, who wear job-specific color scrubs.

"The patients, visitors, families, the public, etc., have a right to expect a neat and professional appearance of those who serve them at all times," the policy states.

The code bans "extreme or faddish hair coloring, by dyeing, bleaching or tinting" and recommends black, brown, blonde, auburn, red, gray and white hues.

Facial hair can't exceed half an inch in length for safety.

Workers also can't wear capri pants or open-toed shoes. Undergarments "must be worn at all times."

Violators are subject to disciplinary actions and can be asked to clock out to change.

The policy includes flexibility for "religious or ethnic apparel, or for medical reasons if discussed and approved by management."

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, employers can have dress codes if accommodations are made for disabilities and ethnic or religious beliefs.

Summa spokesman Mike Bernstein said all health care organizations have thorough dress code policies.

"The specific requirements of the policy are designed with the best interests and safety of our patients in mind as well as to ensure the image we portray as an organization is characteristic of our outstanding reputation in the community," he said in an email. "To that end and to make sure the policy is fair to all employees, it is created with direct involvement from a number of clinical and non-clinical people from across the organization and also is representative of the feedback that we receive from our patients."

Dress codes are "getting more complicated" as companies acknowledge the popularity of tattoos and piercings, particularly among younger workers, said Edward Yost, HR business partner, employee/management relations for the Society of Human Resource Management.

"It's becoming more mainstream, and it's not as prevalent that organizations are committed to making sure nobody sees your tattoos or piercings or whatever else," he said.

Employees at Akron Children's Hospital are asked to cover tattoos "as much as possible" and to choose hair styles and colors consistent with their profession, though no specific hues are mentioned in the dress code, human resources director Machele Merriweather said.

The policy, updated last year, limits earring size for safety (young patients could pull them) but doesn't cap the number of piercings.

Children's doesn't require pantyhose or ban crop pants or open-toed shoes, except flip flops.

"We're looking for appearances to be professional and not offensive or distasteful or disrespectful," she said. "I have to believe that people make professional choices because we rarely get complaints about dress codes."

Akron General's dress code, also updated last year, is similar to Summa's, with some minor variations, spokeswoman Stephanie York said in an email.

She said the policies are put in place to address hygiene and infection control.

Akron General doesn't require hosiery with dresses and skirts, York said, "but it's not unreasonable."

Summa's ban on bare legs is generating some backlash.

Several people identifying themselves as Summa employees complained about the policy on Glassdoor.com, a job site with worker reviews.

"Female employees shouldn't be required to wear panty hose and closed toe shoes because it just reinforces the misogynistic attitude that women's bodies are dangerous and must be concealed," one worker said. "Even the nuns that work in our affiliated hospitals are wearing sandals and capris."

"OMG!" wrote another worker. "As of July, female employees are required to cover all skin except their face, neck and lower arms. If they wear skirts, they have to wear tights or panty hose. ... Even the employees who wear very conservative dress for religious purposes are upset!!!!"

Bernstein said Summa understands "it might be easy for an individual to analyze a specific part of the policy."

"However," he said, "as the largest employer in Summit County, we review the policy in its entirety and are extremely appreciative of the support we receive from the vast majority of employees across the health system."

Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or [email protected]. Follow Powell on Twitter at twitter.com/CherylPowellABJ.

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