Staff Dress Code
Comments were received at the 1/22/2026 Regular Session Executive Board Meeting regarding accountability for a perceived lack of enforcement of the dress code policy, specific to nose rings. Below are the changes made to the policy in the September 2025 and October 2025 Board Meetings:
In the September 2025 Regular Session, the Board voted to change Policy GBEBA to reflect “no facial piercings are allowed”.
In the October 2025 Regular Session, the topic was brought back up due to questions regarding potential procedural issues with the original vote. Subsequently, the Board voted to amend Policy GBEBA to read as follows: Employees are expected to maintain a professional appearance while at work. Facial piercings are not permitted, with the exception of a nose piercing. Acceptable jewelry includes a small, discreet stud (no larger than 2 mm in diameter) or a close-fitting nose ring (also known as a “hugger” or “hoop”) that sits flush against the nose. Jewelry must be minimal, non-distracting, and professional in appearance. Oversized or decorative rings are not allowed.
Bathroom Access Legal Opinion
During the September 2025 Board Meeting, the Board approved creating a Scope of Work (SOW) for our legal counsel to evaluate WCA’s ability to regulate bathroom and locker room access based on biological sex assigned at birth, and to understand potential legal liabilities tied to any related policy decision.
Due to the unforeseen time required of the Board to fulfill numerous CORA requests, the efforts relating to the SOW were effectively paused. At this time, the Board will be revisiting the SOW to refine it for final submission to legal counsel. Once the work is complete and the Board has concluded its analysis of the legal opinion, we will report back on the matter to all stakeholders.
