We are pleased to announce that Disability Sheffield has adopted the Halo Code to prevent race-based hair discrimination in our workplace.
What is race-based hair discrimination?
Where Black people are told their hair textures and hairstyles are inappropriate, unattractive, and unprofessional due to racist attitudes. People are made to feel ashamed and excluded because of their hair. You may have heard stories such as this in the news about Black children being suspended from school due to their hair, this is race-based hair discrimination.
What is The Halo Code?
It is the following commitments we have made:
“Our workplace champions the right of staff to embrace all Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge that 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 worn 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 employees ability to succeed.”
Why have we made this commitment?
To ensure no future members of our team, both employees and volunteers, are ever made to feel ashamed or excluded due to their hair.
What is the history behind this?
Please click here to read a short history of hair discrimination.
Questions
Click here for answers to some frequently asked questions.
