- The Washington Times - Thursday, October 31, 2013

Note to Halloween celebrants: Don’t wear the Obama costume. Doing so at work could lead the human resources department to mandate all employees take part in diversity training — which is what happened at a Kentucky medical center this week.

Jennie Stuart Medical Center’s human resources sent out a letter to all 750 staff members apologizing for a man who made an appearance at the yearly office Halloween costume party wearing a mask of President Obama and a strait jacket, The Blaze reported. The man — flanked by two costumed security officers — also performed a skit at the party, calling “VIP Special Delivery.”

He won third place in the office costume contest, the local WZTV station reported. But company officials weren’t impressed after seeing a photograph of the man and his two friends in costume.

The vice president of the company’s human resources department first apologized, then asked workers to stay away from any costume with political, religious, ethnic or gender-based overtones, the local WZTV station reported.

Fox 17 reported that the costume caused enough complaints that now all employees have to take part in diversity training. The company did not specify how many actually complained.

The medical center is located in Hopkinsville, along the border of Kentucky and Tennessee.

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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