While the rules for every workplace will be different, these guidelines are a start to ensure you are on the right track when it comes to planning what to wear to the next workplace costume party.
When planning to wear a costume for Halloween on October 31st, first talk to your superiors to find out if it's okay with them. After all, you do not want to violate any company rules.
Replica weapons look eerily close to the real thing nowadays. Whereas it is obvious that you should not bring real weapons to work, even replicas may cause consternation. You don't want to risk having a SWAT team descend on your offices because someone thought you were toting a real gun. There are plenty of workplace costume ideas to choose from that do not. These purge masks that light up strike the perfect balance between scary and fun.
Dressing up as someone from a different ethnic background or culture to your own should be avoided at all costs. This can cause problems you don't need. Appropriating cultural artifacts and motifs is offensive and insensitive by others, thus you should avoid it. For example, wearing regalia such as an Aboriginal feather headdress as part of your Halloween costume can be seen as disrespectful. For more information on what costumes may be offensive to certain cultures, check out our guide on Cultural Appropriation and Costumes.
When wearing a costume to work, any garment that can be construed as a sexy version of anything should not be worn to work. Such costumes may be okay for private Halloween parties but are inappropriate for the workplace.
Avoid scary or gory costumes if small children will be present. While a good Halloween scare is always fun, you should be mindful of others. After all, wearing a horror-based costume may affect those who are highly sensitive, especially children.
When wearing a Halloween costume to work, be aware of safety. If your costume will interfere with your ability to perform your duties in a safe and effective manner, reconsider wearing it. For example, if you will be working close to heavy-duty equipment like shredding machines don't be stupid by wearing a costume like a mummy outfit. The dangling bits can easily be caught up in whirling blades and become a hazard.
If you will be wearing a silly workplace costume, take a change of clothing if matters at work suddenly turn serious. You may be in a situation where you must dress more soberly. After all, you never know when an important client may visit unexpectedly who would not appreciate the office looking like a Halloween movie set.
Heavy synthetic material in a furry one-piece costume may seem cute at the time. However, after 6 to 8 hours indoors you may get so hot and sweaty that it could become unbearable.
Workplace costumes that make light of other people's life struggles or glamourize them are in bad taste. Thus, should not be worn to work. For example, making fun of poverty by dressing up as a homeless person. Or, depicting racism by wearing a black face. Or dressing up as a blind person is not cool and highly inappropriate.
