Halloween is upon us so now is a good time for employers to set expectations and plan for the festivities at work.
Employers will want to make sure that their Halloween activities don’t turn the workplace into a haunted house of complaints and EEOC charges.
Here are some tips to make your day a treat, not a workplace trick.
We know that Americans have become easily offended. With this backdrop, employers are wise to limit costumes and festivities at work.
A man recently was accused of being racially insensitive because he dressed as professional basketball player Steph Curry and wore a friend’s face makeup. Even Dr. Seuss has recently been accused of being racially insensitive for his portrayal of an Asian figure in his first book.
These reactions are important clues to how employees will react to anyone who dresses in a manner that portrays a stereotype, including portraying a religion, race, gender or nationality or even portrays one’s own religion, race, gender or nationality in a manner that might be stereotyping or offense. Just don’t.
Employees should avoid being political in their costumes, either dressing as President Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or any other political figure, or making a political statement. Employers will be unable to manage the divisiveness that will follow.
Employees also should avoid dressing provocatively, or revealing any more of their body than would normally be done at work.
They also should avoid commenting on other’s costumes.
Anyone who dresses as the Las Vegas killer, or who dresses as a white supremacist protester, should be terminated on the spot.
Ultimately, dressing up in costumes at work is simply risky for all involved. Preferably, costumes at work are prohibited other than the pediatric floor at a hospital or pediatrician’s office, orthodontist or preschool.
If costumes are a must, then set a theme, such as favorite college team.
Employers should not mandate that anyone dress up, nor criticize anyone who fails to participate.
Employers can host a party (ideally alcohol-free) at work, but should avoid doing anything that might implicate the religious sensitivities of those who feel that Halloween is offensive to their religion.
Employers should avoid the ghouls, gravestones and death-implicating or haunted house-type decorations and activities.
Of course, employees should not be permitted to wear masks, or anything that makes them unidentifiable. Further, employees should be prohibited from bringing any “fake” weapons such as pretend knives or guns.
Host a pumpkin carving contest, pumpkin pie and apple pie contest, and guess the candy corn in the jar. Serve chili, caramel apples and apple cider.
These are fun fall events that ideally won’t offend anyone and are still ways to build team morale.
Finally, employers should not host a Halloween parade or Halloween skit or show. Whenever co-workers try to be entertaining or funny, they are going out on a limb and will surely do something that will be inappropriate.
The most festive treat you can give your staff is an early dismissal so they can get home to their neighborhoods early. They will value that much more than having to think up a costume that won’t offend anyone.