FROM THE DESK OF SHARON SPRATT, CEO

COTTONWOOD DRESS CODE

Your attitude, commitment and appearance are very important to Cottonwood. Remember, to the general public, you are Cottonwood. It is important to always dress a notch above what is expected rather than a notch below. Your actions and personal appearance affect the entire organization. It is important that we keep a high level of professionalism at Cottonwood.

Acceptable Dress By Area

Office and Administrative Staff	Neat, clean business-casual clothing that is appropriate for the office at all times. Cropped pants below the knee are acceptable, but NO SHORTS. SKIRT-LENGTHS appropriate for business wear are acceptable. Well-cared-for jeans that fit well are a work option as long as the day’s activities are taken into consideration and clothing choices are made accordingly (i.e. if you have a meeting, make sure that you are sufficiently dressed up- in person meetings will require careful bottom half choices too. No pajama pants or holey distressed jeans in the office!).
Employment Consultants	Choose your clothing based on the type of business where you are consulting and dress a notch above!
Production Staff & Direct Line Staff	Casual and comfortable clothing that promotes professionalism and safety on the production line. Mid-thigh length shorts are allowed. Open-toed shoes are not allowed for safety reasons.
Residential Staff	Casual and comfortable dress that best represents the professional image of Cottonwood to the community and models to the consumers we serve. Use your best judgment and choose attire appropriate to the situation. Supervisors will have final say in what is appropriate.

Unacceptable Dress For All Areas

• Shorts shorter than mid-thigh length, (for those areas where shorts are allowed)
• Sweat pants
• Workout clothing
• Grungy or dirty shoes
• Tank tops, halter tops
• Bare midriffs
• Tattered, wrinkled, worn or dirty clothing
• Spaghetti straps without shirt underneath or over
• Provocative clothing; see-through clothing without a cami or tank underneath
• Low-cut or plunging necklines
• Rubber thong-type flip-flops
• T-shirts with alcohol/tobacco/drug references
• Clothing with provocative or disrespectful language / symbols
• Jeans that are stained, torn, or overly worn (the jeans you’ve been wearing since high school are likely not work-appropriate)

The inclusion of jeans as part of the daily dress code for office staff is a notable change for Cottonwood. Ensure its’ longevity by making thoughtful clothing choices and ensuring that you are conveying a professional image suitable to the occasion.

Please observe these common-sense guidelines to avoid being sent home to change into more suitable attire. Your good judgment will prevent restrictions to the dress code. Thank you!