The HRA supports all staff to express their identity and personality through their appearance, and does not have a dress code. We have also adopted the Halo Code for workplaces, celebrating Black hair.
The Halo Code says:
- Our workplace champions the right of staff to embrace all Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge Afro-textured hair is an important part of our Black employees’ racial, ethnic, cultural and religious identities, and requires specific styling for hair health and maintenance.
- We celebrate Afro-textured hair work in all styles including, but not limited to: afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, fades, hair straightened through the application of heat or chemicals, weaves, wigs, headscarves, and wraps.
- In this workplace, we recognise and celebrate our colleagues’ identities. We are a community built on an ethos of equality and respect where hair texture and style have no bearing on an employee’s ability to succeed.
- In order to embody the spirit of the The Halo Code, all staff are encouraged to familiarise themselves with different Afro-textured hairstyles and their cultural significance, and to avoid labelling Afro-textured hair with terms such as messy, unprofessional, or inappropriate.
Committing to the Halo Code is part of a wider strategy to ensure staff from diverse communities and backgrounds can belong and progress at the HRA. Our strategy includes talent development, positive action in recruitment, addressing biases, recognising and challenging microaggressions, and celebrating our diverse histories and accomplishments.