An employee in my deptartment who has ovarian cancer and has been going through chemo went to Human Resources to ask for a handicap parking sticker because she's pretty weak and having a hard time getting around. While she was there the HR representative told her she was in violation of the dress code because she was wearing a cap. The employee told her she has cancer and has no hair. HR Lady said it didn't matter, that there was no provision for cancer in the policy and that she would give her one week to get a wig. The employee said the only wig she had was her daughter's and it was in Nevada. HR Lady said she would give her a Fed Ex box.
The employee (very hurt and upset) reported the incident to her manager and she to the Director of our department. HR Lady originally denied the incident, saying that the employee must have misunderstood, and even after being confronted by several managers, never really admitted to any wrong doing (at least to anyone I've talked to). However, HR Lady's boss clearly knew it was inappropriate, because she called the employee and apologized, telling her that she should wear whatever makes her comfortable.
Everyone who hears this story can hardly believe it, and most people here really wanted to do something for the employee. Our facilities manager, who recently lost his wife to the same cancer, brough scarves and a couple of wigs for her. And the rest of us? We declared it hat day! Because certainly, with all that she has been going throuhg, she doesn't need to feel belittled or lonely. The whole department donned their most stylish/funny/ridiculous headwear for the day, and as other departments found out, some were able to run home or borrow hats to join in as well. We took a group picture that is below, and the employee felt nothing but love and support and she got a copy of the picture in a frame with a mat we all signed.
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