Dress Code & Personal Presentation Policy

At Gelateria Danieli, we pride ourselves on our brilliant customer service, part of which is making sure we are maintaining the highest standards of food safety and hygiene.

The way we present ourselves is an important part of our brand. More importantly, because we prepare and serve food, our appearance is also a food safety requirement.

This policy sets out the standards expected of every employee whilst at work. It applies to all employees, workers, agency staff and anyone representing Gelateria Danieli.

Compliance with this policy is a condition of employment.

Failure to comply with this policy may result in an employee being asked to rectify the issue before continuing to work and, where standards are repeatedly or deliberately ignored, may result in disciplinary action.

Our Standards

At Gelateria Danieli, every member of the team represents our brand from the moment they arrive for work.

Customers trust us to prepare and serve food safely, professionally and with pride. The way we present ourselves plays an important part in maintaining that trust.

These standards are not about personal style or fashion. They exist to:

• Protect food safety.
• Comply with food hygiene legislation.
• Reduce the risk of contamination.
• Present a professional and consistent appearance.
• Give every customer confidence in our products.
• Protect the reputation of Gelateria Danieli.

Everyone is expected to follow these standards every day, without exception.

Company Uniform

Gelateria Danieli will provide:

• Branded company t-shirts for front of house employees.
• Appropriate uniform for kitchen and production staff.
• Any additional protective clothing or personal protective equipment (PPE) required for specific duties.

Employees are responsible for ensuring their uniform is:

• Clean and freshly laundered for every shift.
• In good condition and free from excessive wear or damage.
• Worn correctly throughout the working day.
• Suitable for the duties being carried out.

Uniform should only be worn whilst working or travelling directly to and from work. Kitchen staff must change into uniform only once inside the building.

Personal Hygiene

Every employee is responsible for maintaining excellent personal hygiene.

Employees are expected to:

• Attend work clean and well presented.
• Wear clean clothing for every shift.
• Maintain good personal cleanliness.
• Use deodorant where appropriate.
• Avoid excessive perfume or aftershave that may affect colleagues or customers.

Because we work with food, poor personal hygiene presents a potential food safety risk and may prevent an employee from commencing work until the issue has been resolved.

Hair

Hair is one of the biggest contamination risks within a food business and must be managed appropriately at all times.

Employees must ensure that:

• Hair is clean and well maintained.
• Long hair is securely tied back before entering any food preparation or serving area.
• Hair remains secured throughout the shift.
• Hair does not fall into the face whilst working.
• Beards and facial hair are kept clean and tidy.

Employees must not:

• Brush or style their hair whilst on the shop floor.
• Redo ponytails, buns or hairstyles whilst serving customers or handling food.
• Continually touch or play with their hair whilst working.

If an employee needs to adjust their hair, they must first leave the food preparation or customer service area. Before returning to work they must wash their hands thoroughly in accordance with food hygiene procedures.

Management may require additional hair coverings where appropriate for specific roles.

Hand Hygiene

Hands must be kept clean throughout every shift.

Employees must wash their hands thoroughly:

• Before starting work.
• Before handling food.
• After using the toilet.
• After breaks.
• After touching their face or hair.
• After coughing or sneezing.
• After handling waste.
• After cleaning.
• Whenever contamination may have occurred.

Hand hygiene forms part of every employee’s food hygiene responsibilities and training.

Nails/Nail Varnish

To minimise contamination risks, fingernails must be kept short and clean at all times while working.

Standard nail polish is not permitted, as it chips easily and presents a contamination risk.

We recognise that many employees wear gel, acrylic, or other permanent nail enhancements. These carry a hygiene risk in a food preparation environment, and our strong preference is that they are removed for work. Where this is not practicable, the following conditions apply: nails must be kept to a short length, and disposable gloves must be worn at all times when handling food or equipment.

Nail art and decorations that could detach are not permitted.

Any nail breakage or damage during a shift must be reported immediately.

False Eyelashes

False eyelashes are not permitted whilst working.

Detached eyelashes present a contamination risk and therefore cannot be worn in food preparation or customer service areas.

Employees should also avoid excessive eye make-up that may flake or contaminate food.

Jewellery

Jewellery should be kept to an absolute minimum whilst working.

The only jewellery permitted is a plain wedding band.

Where jewellery presents a hygiene or safety risk, employees may be instructed to remove it before commencing work.

Piercings

Visible facial piercings may present a contamination risk if jewellery becomes loose during food preparation or service.

Where management reasonably considers a piercing to create a food safety or health and safety risk, employees may be required to remove or suitably cover the piercing whilst at work.

Each situation will be considered reasonably and in accordance with food safety requirements.

Clothing Standards

Employees are expected to present a professional appearance at all times.

The following are not acceptable:

• Vest tops.
• Crop tops.
• Clothing that exposes the midriff.
• Ripped or heavily distressed clothing.
• Clothing displaying offensive, political or inappropriate slogans or images.
• Clothing that is excessively revealing.

Uniform should be worn correctly and not altered without management approval.

Footwear

Employees must wear footwear that is suitable for a busy food service environment.

Footwear must be:

• Clean.
• Fully enclosed.
• Closed toe.
• Closed heel.
• Safe and practical for standing throughout the shift.
• Slip resistant wherever possible.

The following are not permitted:

• Flip-flops.
• Sandals.
• Sliders.
• Open-toed shoes.
• High heels that create a safety risk.

Tattoos

Gelateria Danieli welcomes individuality and recognises that tattoos are a personal choice.

However, tattoos containing offensive, discriminatory, explicit or inappropriate imagery or wording must be covered whilst at work.

Management reserves the right to determine whether a tattoo is appropriate for display within the workplace.

Religious Dress and Reasonable Adjustments

Gelateria Danieli is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

The Company recognises that some employees may wear clothing or items for religious or cultural reasons.

Reasonable adjustments will always be considered wherever possible, provided that food safety, hygiene and health and safety standards can continue to be met.

Presentation of Self While Working

Employees are expected to maintain professional standards throughout their shift.

Employees must not:

• Eat whilst serving customers or preparing food.
• Chew gum.
• Smoke or vape whilst working.
• Use mobile phones in food preparation areas.
• Apply make-up on the shop floor.
• Adjust hair, eyelashes or clothing whilst serving customers or handling food.
• Engage in any behaviour that could contaminate food or undermine customer confidence.

If an employee needs to attend to their appearance during their shift, they must leave the food preparation or customer service area first and wash their hands before returning to work.

Management Responsibilities

Managers are responsible for ensuring this policy is applied consistently and fairly.

Where standards are not met, managers may:

• Ask an employee to rectify the issue immediately.
• Remove an employee from food handling duties until the issue is resolved.
• Ask an employee to return home to change where appropriate.
• Arrange additional food hygiene training.
• Address repeated concerns through the Company’s informal or formal procedures.

Failure to Comply

Food safety is everyone’s responsibility.

If a manager asks an employee to tie their hair back, remove jewellery, wash their hands or correct any aspect of their appearance, this is not a matter of personal preference. These instructions are given to protect our customers, our colleagues and our business.

Employees are expected to respond professionally and immediately to any reasonable instruction relating to hygiene, health and safety or presentation.

Repeated or deliberate failure to comply with this policy, refusal to follow reasonable management instructions, or behaviour which places food safety standards at risk may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Company’s Disciplinary Policy.

Our Commitment

At Gelateria Danieli, our standards are part of what makes us different.

We take pride in our appearance because we take pride in every product we serve. Every scoop, every customer interaction and every member of our team contributes to the experience our customers expect. By maintaining exceptional standards of presentation and hygiene, we protect our customers, support one another and uphold the reputation of Gelateria Danieli.

last updated 3rd august 2026