Opinion ID: 660848
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Personal Appearance Policy

Text: 12 The next rule of relevance in this case is the Hospital's personal appearance policy. The Hospital had a rule since 1986 which permitted the wearing of [p]rofessional pins ... or those authorized by Administration, but prohibited the wearing of other pins, badges, insignia, buttons, signs, etc. (J.A. 53). This policy was rarely enforced. RNs wore a variety of buttons such as Redskins' buttons, Christmas buttons, humorous buttons, and National Nursing Day buttons. 13 On April 17, 1989, the Union distributed to its supporters a button which read, Nurses: Let's Work Together, FPNA/DCNA (J.A. 54). The pin showed clasped hands. The same day, the Hospital promulgated and distributed to employees the following new rule: 14 All Association employees must wear an authorized name tag while on duty. Only professional pins, service pins may be worn in immediate patient care dress [sic]. 15 Id. Starting that afternoon, the Hospital informed the nurses that they could not wear their Union buttons and that the policy against the wearing of unauthorized buttons would be strictly enforced. Further, the Hospital warned the nurses that any violation of the policy would necessitate disciplinary action. The policy was enforced immediately. Some nurses were given formal warnings--the first step in the Hospital's positive disciplinary process--for wearing the buttons. Other nurses were instructed to remove their buttons immediately. 16 The prohibition against all nonconforming buttons did not last long. Nurses soon returned to wearing a variety of buttons, including Redskins' buttons, teddy bears, and holiday pins. The prohibition against Union buttons continued, however, and employees seen wearing Union buttons were ordered to remove them.