Disney workers can now sport whatever gender costume they want in major inclusivity drive

Disney has announced a major shift in its dress code in a bid to give staff a “sense of belonging at work”.

Cast members at the theme parks can now wear whatever gendered costume they choose and no longer have to cover up tattoos. Plus, male workers are now free to wear nail polish.

"We want our guests to see their own backgrounds and traditions reflected in the stories, experiences and products they encounter in their interactions with Disney," the head of parks, experiences and products, said in a statement published on Tuesday.

"And we want our cast members — and future cast members — to feel a sense of belonging at work."

The new rules will apply as soon as Disneyland and Disney California Adventure reopen on April 30 following a year of being shuttered by the Covid pandemic.

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References to gender have been removed from Disney’s employee dress guidelines, which no longer specify how long a man’s hair should be – although the colour must still appear natural, with pink, green and blue dye banned.

Workers can also now show off their tattoos as long as they’re not on the face, head or neck and are no larger than a hand.

They also can’t contain offensive language, symbols or nudity – which seems fair.

"Our new approach provides greater flexibility with respect to forms of personal expression surrounding gender-inclusive hairstyles, jewelry, nail styles, and costume choices; and allowing appropriate visible tattoos," chairman Josh D’Amaro wrote.

"We’re updating them to not only remain relevant in today’s workplace, but also enable our Cast Members to better express their cultures and individuality at work."

He added: “We will never stop working to make sure Disney is a welcoming place for all.”