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Halloween and fancy dress go hand in hand. And traditionally at work, there has often been the opportunity for fancy dress. Some companies might go all-out with competitions, and, particularly for customer-facing roles, fancy dress can be a way to connect with customers and encourage staff bonding.
But gone are the days of just wearing anything, and HR and managers need to be wary of the dos and don'ts of fancy dress at work.
Rob McKellar, Director of Legal at Peninsula say that while fancy dress can be a great opportunity for boosting morale and team spirit, it's imperative to ensure costumes are still consistent with equal opportunities and discrimination policies. "Employers should make sure to set out what is and isn’t acceptable in a company-wide communication beforehand," he says. “Your work setting is a key factor too in deciding whether a costume is appropriate. Skimpy outfits in nurseries and schools, and grim reapers in health care settings will not go down well, for obvious reasons."
John Johnston, Head of E-commerce at workwear provider Workwear Express, agrees, adding: “Whilst dressing up for Halloween can boost morale in the workplace, it needs to be carefully regulated by both staff and employers. When choosing Halloween costumes for the workplace, employees and managers must consider if it could cause offence in any way. It’s important to think about the message you are conveying with your costume and whether it's appropriate for work. In a professional environment, staff must also ensure their costumes are appropriate and align with the company's rules and values. Dressing up inappropriately for Halloween can impact the business's reputation and in worse cases, potentially lead to legal issues."
