By T. Scott Boatright
Dressing for success was the main order of business conducted during Thursday’s Lincoln Parish Library Board of Control meeting held in the George Byrnside Conference Room of the LPL.
In this case, dressing for success means wearing clothing best suited for particular jobs as opposed to a stricter dress code that was previously in place.
That’s because looking into the LPL’s Employee Manual, Library Director Jeremy Bolom determined that in the midst of changing times, an update was needed.
The main changes included making denim jeans more acceptable for library personnel to wear.
In its original form, the LPL’s Employee Manual indicated Jeans may be worn on Friday and Saturday only by all staff and any day by pages and maintenance staff. Jean must not be faded, frayed, have any holes, or be overly decorated or embellished.
The changes adopted by the LPL Board of Control during Thursday’s meeting are as follows:
Acceptable attire:
Casual attire reflective of the daily work function performed.
- Top examples: blouses, sweaters, button-downs, and polo shirts.
- Bottom examples: skirts, slacks, khakis (“docker” style pants), corduroy, and denim.
Capri pants may be worn during Library Summer Hours, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
T-shirts and sweatshirts as instructed below.
- Library Workplace Pro shirts or other shirts that promote reading and libraries are allowed Friday through Sunday.
- Current Summer Reading Program themed shirts or other shirts that promote reading and libraries are allowed from the program start date in May through Labor Day.
- Holiday t-shirts and attire, as specified by the Director
Closed toe shoes that are securely on the feet (surround the foot and heel)
- Examples include dress and casual shoes, flats, boots, and tennis shoes that may contain ties, buckles, etc.
- They should be clean and in good condition.
Unacceptable attire:
- Any clothing or footwear past peak performance (e.g., items that are faded, frayed, stained, or contain holes, rips, etc.)
- Skirts, dresses, or split skirts shorter than two inches above the knee
- Leggings or athletic/exercise wear, including sweatpants.
- Any type of bottom that allows for undergarments to be seen.
- Shorts or capri pants that are shorter than mid-calf.
- Any tops that reveal the midsection, with or without movement.
- Spaghetti straps, tank tops, or any tops that allow undergarments to be seen.
Shoes as noted below:
- Open-toed shoes of any kind
- Household slippers or Crocs
- Unsecured shoes, i.e., shoes that can easily be removed such as slides, mules, etc.Ungroomed hair and/or beards.
Full head coverings, such as caps, hats, or scarves (unless required for medical or religious reasons)
Excessive piercings or jewelry that may be distracting or hinder job performance.
The new regulations also stipulate that staff involved in certain duties or activities may be given permission by their supervisor to make exceptions to the dress guidelines.
Changes also indicate that to help patrons identify staff easily, a library-issued photo ID card on a lanyard must be worn visibly on the torso whenever the employee is on duty.
The library will provide each employee with one printed ID, card holder, and lanyard. Replacement cards are subject to a $2 fee. Staff do not have to use library-issued badge holders and lanyards as long their substitute is tasteful and in good repair.
Also, because of Worker’s Compensation stipulations, additionally, any staff that is climbing a ladder must not wear tennis shoes. Employees must wear sturdy shoes with a definable heel that will not slip through the rungs of the ladder. The “spotter” for the person climbing must also be wearing shoes with definable heels.
The new regulations indicate that if an employee reports to work improperly dressed or groomed, his/her supervisor will instruct the employee to return home to change clothes or to take other appropriate corrective action. The employee will not be compensated during this time away from work, and documentation will be made. Repeated violations may be cause for disciplinary action leading up to and including termination of employment.
Bolom said the “Dress and Appearance” updates to the Employee Manual were made to make regulations less restrictive.
“A lot of times employees are working at and doing things like cleaning shelves and that kind of thing, they can dress more appropriately to handle those duties that may require working in dusty areas and that kind of thing,” Bolom said.
“The changes also involve things that are considered more culturally normal now than when the old policies were written.”
At Bolom’s suggestion, the Board also agreed that the top three current priorities for library upgrades are:
- Flooring
- Lighting both inside and out on both sides of the building (including the Events Center)
- Security Cameras
Bolom also told the Board that he hopes upgrades to the sound systems in the LPL’s conference rooms come before the end of the year and that he has been given an estimate of under $10,000.
“I haven’t heard about any kind of timeline yet,” Bolom said. “I’m sure it’s taking them some time to get all the things that will go into it ordered.”
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
