2.2 Walking Through the Door
The first steps in beginning an internship involve getting comfortable at your agency and becoming familiar with the culture of the office and the work. Human services agencies vary widely in their approach to working with clients. Many agencies that work with youth embrace a more casual culture in order to put clients at ease. Some governmental agencies still follow a very formal and professional business culture. Some have policies that pertain only to the clothing of employees, while some agencies also have expectations for how their clients present themselves. Following are some tips and guidelines to help you develop confidence as you begin your fieldwork.
Looking the Part
Most placement sites will have a dress code of one type or another. During your interview or orientation, take time to observe how others in the office are dressed. This can help guide you as you plan ahead. If you have already interviewed, you can ask your supervisor what is expected and then observe your colleagues during your first few days on the job.
Modern dress codes can feel like a minefield—many agencies that work with youth encourage a casual style of dress, including jeans. Outreach workers often have to dress for both the weather and possible grimy environments. On the other end of the scale, some settings require that interns and employees avoid specific clothing. For example, a local youth correctional facility does not allow jeans or certain articles of clothing in gang-related colors.
In the past, dress codes have been used to discriminate against interns or employees by categorizing them as “not a good fit”—a phrase that often meant “doesn’t look like us.” Recently, workplaces have been paying more attention to how their dress code impacts their workers and their appearance in the community. The U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) has set laws around what type of business practices are allowed when it comes to employees’ attire. In general, employers must use a standard that applies equally to all workers within certain job categories. For example, if an employer allows casual clothing, it would be illegal to then not allow clothing representing a specific ethnic region. Employees can also ask for accommodations for religious reasons as well as disability. Unless accommodating this request poses a hardship (which can be defined differently), the employer must comply. For example, if the working conditions require respirators, a religious exemption for facial hair may cause safety issues. Unless a safe alternative exists to allow for the employee’s facial hair, it may be disallowed.
Another example of the changing world of business attire is body art. Many employers previously had strict policies about piercings and tattoos. However, as these expressions have become more commonplace, many workplaces have loosened these restrictions, if not eliminated them altogether. As shown in Figure 2.1 a and b, different work