“I run a small insurance agency. Last fall, some of my staff asked me to dress up for Halloween, and I said no. But a teller at our community bank… and now my employees have asked again if they can wear costumes on October 31st of this year. Should I do it?”
– Sue, from St. Paul, MN
Sue, that’s a great question. This is a question I’ve been asked a lot over the last three years.
There is no right or wrong answer to this. It depends on the company whether or not to allow employees to wear Halloween costumes.
Before you say yes or no, check out these pointers to help you make your decision.
Good points about employees dressing up for Halloween
There’s no question about that. Costumes aren’t just for kids anymore.
Americans spend over $3 billion on Halloween costumes. That number has increased over the past decade, according to the NRF. In 2018, nearly half of adults celebrating Halloween planned to dress up.
That’s why employees want to dress up for Halloween at work. Here are three benefits of dressing up at work.
boost morale
Most of us are looking for something to relieve boredom during the work day. Allowing your employees to wear Halloween costumes can boost morale.
Everyone looks a little happy. I feel like my smile has become a little brighter. My relationships with my colleagues have also improved a little. High morale is contagious!
Improving customer satisfaction
Allowing your employees to dress up for Halloween will improve customer relationships and increase sales.
Workplace costumes humanize your business. These help strengthen the connection between staff and consumers. Shoppers will smile and remember your brand.
Expand sales
Costumes can be an icebreaker to start sales conversations in retail.
It can be a competitive differentiator for creative businesses such as marketing agencies and public relations firms, or for bakeries and other food businesses. Fun creativity is highly valued in a business like this. Combine costumed employees with other Halloween marketing ideas for success. For example, a creative pumpkin carving contest is always a great way to express creativity.
Here are some ideas to inspire your pumpkin carving efforts at work.
Guidelines for Employee Costume Wearing
There are good points, but it shouldn’t be free for everyone.
Set guidelines for employee attire. Communicate in advance what is and is not allowed in the office on Halloween. Please give an example.
In smaller environments, you can also ask employees to choose their outfits in advance with you or their direct supervisor.
Here are five guidelines for employee costumes for Halloween.
Make safety your top priority
Avoid placing bulky costumes near machinery or in potentially hazardous environments such as factories. Accidents can occur just by getting caught in a moving part. If you look at it from above, you can see that the moving parts can easily catch something like a pirate’s puffy sleeves.
Avoid tasteless costumes
Ask your employees to avoid costumes that could be considered culturally, sexually, or racially insensitive, such as American Indian costumes. Remember the uproar a few years ago when Prince Harry was photographed in a tasteless outfit?
But even popular costumes that seem like harmless fun can be taken the wrong way. Picture in your head a particular outfit and how it will appear in your business.
for example, According to the National Retail Federation, the most common costumes for adults last year were:
- 7.2 million adults plan to dress like witches,
- 2.5 million people dressed up as vampires
- 2.1 million people chose to become zombies
- 1.9 million people wanted to dress up as pirates,
- 1.3 million people chose their favorite Avengers costumes, including Iron Man and Black Panther.
These costumes sound like fun, but it might be in bad taste for an emergency clinic receptionist to dress like a zombie. Or blood bank employees may dress up as vampires.
Or sometimes restaurant servers dress up as rats or cockroaches.
Limit masks and Halloween makeup
Wearing a full face mask at work is never a good idea. Customers and colleagues want to see facial expressions. Masks also impede communication. Plus, they look creepy.
How about some dramatic Halloween makeup? As the image above shows, some makeup can cover most or all of your face.
But what is a visual masterpiece to one person is an annoying distraction to another while conducting business.
Dramatic faces can be popular in businesses such as bars and nightclubs. Instruct your employees to tone it down in offices and professional settings.
Light face paint (e.g., a nose color reminiscent of cat whiskers or a scarecrow) may also be an acceptable alternative. Some employers are choosing not to allow any face coverings at all, only costumes.
Minimize dress-up by specific personnel
For some professions, costumes seem…well…wrong. Would you like a police officer or surgeon to dress up as a police officer for Halloween?
Think about the professionalism your customers and clients expect.
One thing you can do is limit costumes to specific personnel.
For example, in medical, legal, and financial businesses, it may be acceptable for employees such as receptionists and billing clerks to dress. However, when financial planners and lawyers wear costumes, they can undermine customer trust. Nurses wearing bulky costumes or costumes that easily fall off can cause health problems.
be sensitive to religious objections
In 2006, Gallup: investigation Approximately 11% of Americans have a religious objection to Halloween. Those who object on religious grounds do so because Halloween is associated with Satan and pagan rituals. They may find costumes like the one pictured above uncomfortable.
Although this study is a bit old, its points still hold true. A small number of employees (and customers) may object to Halloween. There are two schools of thought regarding this:
- It’s a good idea to have costumes and celebrations that focus on fun themes, such as scarecrows, pumpkins, and fanciful characters such as princesses or robots. Stay away from topics related to the occult and demons.
- Don’t let your employees feel peer pressure to dress appropriately. Be open and let them know that it is an option and a personal choice.
Below is a table of guidelines that administrators can refer to as the spooky holidays approach.
| guidelines | explanation |
|---|---|
| Make safety your top priority | Avoid bulky or dangerous costumes when near machinery or potentially hazardous environments. Safety should always be a top priority and it is essential to ensure that costumes do not pose a risk to employees. |
| Avoid tasteless costumes | Make sure your costume is respectful and not perceived as culturally, sexually, or racially insensitive. Even seemingly innocuous or popular costumes should be chosen carefully, considering how they will be perceived in the context of your particular business. |
| Limit masks and makeup | Full-face masks and heavy Halloween makeup should generally be avoided, as they can interfere with communication and come across as unprofessional. Light face paint may be an acceptable alternative, but whether it’s appropriate may depend on your business situation. |
| Minimize dress-up by specific personnel | For some professional roles, costumes may appear inappropriate. Restricting costumes to specific personnel, such as receptionists or accounting clerks, helps maintain professionalism while ensuring that costumes do not undermine trust or pose health concerns in certain occupations. Helpful. |
| be sensitive to religious objections | Be aware that some employees may have religious objections to Halloween or certain themes. Keep the celebration focused on fun, non-controversial themes and make sure employees understand that dressing up is optional and a personal choice without peer pressure. |
hold an event instead
If you want to boost employee morale and celebrate with your customers, but don’t want to allow your employees to wear Halloween costumes, host an event instead.
Arrange an open house for your customers with Halloween treats. Bring face paint for the kids. We will hold a pet parade. Make this day more relaxing and make it a memorable experience. See more Halloween events.
More ideas when considering whether to allow Employees also dress up for Halloween
Deciding on a Halloween costume for the workplace involves more than just fun and creativity. It’s about promoting a positive and inclusive environment without compromising professionalism. Here are some more insights to help guide your decisions to ensure all your employees have a comfortable and enjoyable experience during Halloween.
Create a cohesive theme
Consider having a theme for your Halloween costume. This brings the team together and makes the event more cohesive. Themes range from classic Halloween characters to more creative concepts like your favorite book characters or movie stars. This approach also prevents inappropriate or uncomfortable costumes.
plan a costume contest
Costume contests can build excitement and encourage participation. Set up categories such as “Most Creative,” “Most Interesting Costume,” and “Best Group Costume” to cater to different interests. Make sure the contest rules are clear and the prizes are workplace-appropriate.
Encourage team building activities
Halloween is a team-building opportunity. Encourage departments and teams to collaborate on costumes and decorations. This not only fosters team spirit but also injects a fun and competitive element into the day.
Handle customer interactions
If your business involves direct interaction with customers, consider how your costume will impact this. For example, you might allow back-office staff to wear casual clothing, but require front-line staff to wear more professional, themed clothing that fits your brand image.
Consider a casual dress day
If full-fledged costumes are too much, consider a “Halloween Casual Dress Day” where employees can wear Halloween-themed colors and accessories. This is a more modest way to celebrate the occasion without making a big deal.
Set a clear end time
Specify when the Halloween festivities end, especially if it’s during work hours. This will help maintain a balance between fun and productivity, allowing you to resume work as usual after the celebration.
Communicate expectations clearly
Whatever decision you make, be sure to clearly communicate it to all employees. Outline what is allowed and what is not. Clear communication prevents misunderstandings and ensures everyone is on the same page.
Provide alternative participation options
For those who don’t want to dress up, offer other ways to participate, such as decorating your workspace. This ensures inclusivity for all employees.
Be mindful of cultural considerations
Make sure your celebrations are respectful of all cultures and backgrounds. Encourage employees to avoid costumes that may mock or appropriate a culture or religion.
Assess productivity impact
Think about how dressing up affects your productivity for the day. If you anticipate significant disruption, you may choose a more modest celebration or save your celebration for after hours.
By considering these points, you can create a Halloween celebration that is fun, inclusive, and appropriate for your work environment.
All answers to your questions come from the Small Business Trends Editorial Board, which has more than 50 years of combined business experience. If you would like to submit a question, please submit here.
Image: Depositphotos.com
