In 2018, Walmart launched their brand-new dress code and said goodbye to the obligatory black or khaki pants and blue or white shirt and hello to a huge new list of fashion possibilities.
But what can you and what can’t you wear to work at Walmart? I’m answering some of the most common questions in this post, so keep reading to find out!
Walmart Dress Code
The Walmart dress code permits employees to wear denim jeans of any color and shirts of any color or pattern. The jeans should be plain and have no rips, embellishments, or jewels. Employees can also wear sneakers instead of dress shoes, and most tattoos and dyed hair are allowed.
If you want to learn more about the Walmart dress code in more detail, such as piercing, jeans, hoodies, tattoos, and more, keep on reading!
Does Walmart Give You a Uniform?
Yes, Walmart does give employees a uniform that consists of a vest and name tag. The color you receive will vary depending on your position.
Apart from that, you can wear your own clothes as long as they comply with the dress code. The vests themselves are free; however, if you wish to customize your vest, it will cost about $11.
Can Walmart Employees Wear Leggings?
The Walmart dress code does not allow employees to wear leggings (yoga pants also fall under this category). Jeggings are permitted, along with jeans, cargo pants, slacks, chinos, and capris.
Can You Wear Ripped Jeans to Work at Walmart?
Employees at Walmart are not permitted to wear ripped jeans, nor are they permitted to wear jeans with patterns, frayed edges or tears.
Distressed jeans also are not permitted, nor are jeans with stains, discoloration, patches, white stitching, or jewel/sequin detailing.
Can Walmart Employees Wear Hoodies?
Whilst some managers may allow hoodies, others may not. This depends on your role in the shop and whether the hood is seen as a safety hazard or not.
Some employees can wear a hoodie and simply tuck the hood into their Walmart Vest, while others may not be permitted to wear a hoodie at all. It is best to check with your manager.
Can You Wear Shorts Working at Walmart?
For the most part, shorts are not permitted for Walmart employees, although there are exceptions for some roles.
Capris pants, skirts, and skorts are permitted, though, providing they are no shorter than three and a half inches above the knee.
Can Walmart Employees Wear Hats?
Employees are permitted to wear a baseball cap as long as it is a Walmart cap. This does not apply to employees who work at the check-out. If you are a cashier, you are not permitted to wear a hat.
Are Walmart Employees Allowed Facial Piercings?
Walmart reduced restrictions on facial piercings when it introduced its new dress code in 2018. That means you are permitted to keep facial piercings in whilst at work.
This does not apply to employees working within a fresh food area such as a bakery. You may be asked to remove your piercings for hygiene reasons if you are dealing with fresh food.
Can Walmart Employees Dye Their Hair?
The Walmart dress code has removed most restrictions concerning hair color. The regulations state that as long as the color doesn’t distract employees from their work, the employee is free to do as they wish with their hair.
Of course, every manager has a different idea concerning what is ‘distracting’ and what is not, so it is always best to check.
Can Walmart Employees Have Tattoos?
Dress code regulations regarding tattoos have been relaxed, and tattoos are now widely permitted for Walmart employees.
Unless your tattoos are vulgar somehow, it is unlikely that you will be asked to cover them up by your manager. This depends on individual managers and stores, so check with your manager before you go and get a full sleeve.
If you are just about to begin your job at Walmart, you might also be interested in learning about the Walmart Discount Card. This card gives employees a 10% in-store discount plus special deals on travel and other stores.
Additionally, potential Walmart employees should also verse themselves with the Walmart drug testing policy before hitting submit on an application.
Also, don’t forget to read about the Walmart lunch break policy, the Walmart retirement plan, Walmart’s bereavement policy, and Walmart’s paycheck stub policy.
Conclusion
Changes in uniform policy have opened up a lot of possibilities for employees at Walmart. There is now some flexibility in terms of what colors and styles you can wear to work.
With this flexibility comes a little bit of confusion, and it is always best to check with your own manager before you turn up to work in something that accidentally breaks the dress code.
Many dress code regulations depend on your role, and different managers will most likely implement different rules. If you are looking for a basic guideline, you really can’t go wrong with a shirt, jeans, and sneakers.
Hi , I’m Robert and I’m AP. Customer host and on 6/15/21 a coach (management) told me a wasn’t allowed to wear a hat, It’s a Walmart hat and so i said I dint know I was t allowed to wear one she stated yes I’m not and I reply I’m not in self check though I’m at the doors amd I’m Asset protection dept. well she made a remark if I wanted to wear a hat she would gladly change my job code to cart associate (stockman) pushing carts. So I just took of the walamrt hat and she said yes , thank you ! And said only people that are allowed is deli , OGP , and cart pushers. Not you!
Hey Roberto, thanks for commenting and sharing your experience! I’m sure it will help other readers ??
Hi my names christina, I recently started wearing a walmart t shirt without my vest and it seems some ppl have a problem with it. My store manager says it was up to his discretion if I have to wear a vest and he told me he doesnt see a problem with it. But this morning i was approached vy my team lead and she was yold from hire up from a lady name rhonda tht i couldnt wear them and i dnt believe thts true. Wht should i do.
Hi Christina, thanks for your comment. Sounds like there is a bit of confusion about the vest. From our research, we found that the dress code can vary from store to store as management may or may not enforced certain things as not wearing the vest. Hope that helps.
Walmart in West Valley told employees they cant wear shorts anymore! It is 113, so why now. I feel for the workers in this heat. So wrong
Hi Linda, thanks for your comment ? Wow! That is unfortunate, they must be boiling. Hopefully they can stay cool.
Hi my name is Kira and I’m a food associate (I put the food in the isles) and primarily have worked in the frozen section and in the dairy section in the past. While most of this is correct to my knowledge there’s a few things here that I feel like should be included! Graphic T-shirts, any form of tank tops, sleeveless blouses or shirts, muscle shirts, and Logos and/or writing on shirts are all not permitted. Tiled patterning is allowed, however! You’re right about the Walmart ballcap hats, however only those in the Garden Center are allowed to use them (And I think maybe fresh foods such as Deli and Bakery, but I’m unclear.) Working in cold chain areas such as the meat freezers, grocery food freezers, or diary and meat coolers you are allowed to wear a Walmart approved beanie–aka the beanies with the spark on them–but not allowed to wear ball caps, even if they are Walmart approved (I would know, I’ve gotten yelled at for wearing one.) Please note that this is from three years experience in the company and there are bound to be things here that are incorrectly worded but to the best of my knowledge, my information is correct.
Hi Kira! Wow, thanks for the informative and useful comment. I’m sure this information will help other Walmart associates who are curious about certain dress code rules.
I work in the bakery deli area and there is alot of confusion of what can be worn in fresh food…
There are way too many variables with this dress code. A dress code for a company is a dress code bottom lines. That is why there is rules, chain of command ect. There should be no variables on what the manager should prefer. Some days the manager is in a good mood so yes let everyone wear what they want. Then they go to a different department and the next manager wants to enforce there rules since it’s there discretion. Everyone needs to be on the same page. You can’t run a business properly with all these chiefs making numerous requests on dress code. I am a manager of a company. I heard a manager of Walmart. Scrolling a woman on her outfit. Ste employee was dressed very professional. However the manager herself was dressed very unprofessional. The employee was very nice and stated she had read the dress code, however the manager said she can go by her own dress code. I definitely wanted to research and see if this was the case. I see by the answers people are given here that it’s oh well have a great day. If you are not following the dress code, that’s it change, or go home. If you are going by Walmart company dress code, there should not be any wiggle room. Plain and simple. It’s yes or no. Otherwise there is no reason to have a dress code. The managers will take care of it.
Hi Robert, I’m a AP Host to here in Missouri, I ware a Veterans hat and shorts I think it all about who and where you work.
I worked for Walmart for 7 years until recently. I was there when the “you be you” was brought out for the dress code. You still needed to dress appropriately but you didn’t have to have the standard blue, white polo and black, blue or khaki pants. Recently I changed stores and was yelled at almost daily from a People Lead who had her own thoughts on how one should dress. I couldn’t wear Capri pants any longer and was embarrassed in front of other associates time and time again over it where as in the other stores I had worked at they had no problem with my dress. I agree there should be no wiggle room, 1 standard for everyone and not just whatever the manager thinks or the People Lead think it should be. Walmart had become less and less of a place I would refer anyone to work at.
I think that they are required to let you wear the Walmart ‘polo’ shirt instead of the vest. However one day a week at a minimum, is designated for the Walmart polo. My store chose fridays. There reason that the polo & possibly other Walmart shirts are allowed is that they are a fundraiser item for only store employees. Take this issue to a higher up and keep going higher if you are told no… contact ethics!