WRITING a policy is pretty simple. Just specify what your grooming standards are and why they’re in place. For example, being clean shaven is essential for employees required to use respirators because facial hair can compromise the fit and thus endanger the employee. Similarly, bans on long beards and mustaches are important for employees at risk of getting entangled in moving machine parts.

JUSTIFYING a grooming policy, especially no facial hair can be tricky. You need to be able to demonstrate that the policy serves an important, legitimate and non-discriminatory business purpose. Safety is the most obvious. Also keep in mind that you may have to make accommodations to the policy to the point of undue hardship, e.g., for employees whose religion requires wearing a beard.

As for samples, our sister publication, HR Insider, has an excellent Model Dress Code and Personal Grooming Policy that addresses facial hair. https://hrinsider.ca/dress-code-policy/ If you can’t use the link, email me at glennd@bongarde.com and I’ll send you a Word version. This Oil Company Policy, http://toledobp.com/pages/cm/work_procedures/Safety/SAF-109-PCY01.pdf is also pretty good.

Hope that helps. Glenn