Disney updates park employee dress code to be more inclusive

Disney Parks on Tuesday announced a new set of guidelines centered around park employee dress codes as part of an effort to be more inclusive of both guests and staff.

A blog post on the Disney Parks website indicated workers would have more freedom in terms of hairstyles, jewelry and other fashion choices, including granting permission for the first time to display tattoos, so long as the content is appropriate.

“Our new approach provides greater flexibility with respect to forms of personal expression surrounding gender-inclusive hairstyles, jewelry, nail styles, and costume choices; and allowing appropriate visible tattoos,” said Josh D’Amaro, the company’s chairman of experiences and products, in Tuesday’s blog post.

“We’re updating them to not only remain relevant in today’s workplace, but also enable our cast members to better express their cultures and individuality at work,” he added.

The new guidelines are part of an effort to prioritize inclusion, in response to suggestions from employees related to “how we could better cultivate a culture of belonging,” D’Amaro said.

Disney employs tens of thousands of workers at its parks in Florida and California, and is planning to reopen its California Disneyland park later this month. The company laid off roughly 32,000 employees last year amid the financial strain of the coronavirus pandemic, which shuttered theme parks across the country.

Disney World in Florida reopened last year, though park employees reported harassment from some guests while trying to enforce masking and social distancing rules.