There is a lot of debate regarding whether employee uniforms are necessary. Some employers feel that they are an unnecessary expense while others believe that they are a vital tool for creating uniformity in the workplace. Employees also have varying opinions regarding uniforms. Some like them because they make it easy to get ready for work every morning. Others, however, feel that they strip them of their individuality or feel uncomfortable
Whether you own a restaurant, a retail store, a cleaning service or just about any other type of business, requiring your employees to wear uniforms could offer numerous benefits. In fact, making employee uniforms a part of your dress code could have a direct impact on the overall success of your business.
If you are trying to decide whether uniforms are right for your business, here are just a few of the benefits that you should be aware of.
Uniforms Can Provide Advertising for Your Company
Not all uniforms are the same, of course, but they often turn employees into walking advertisements for the companies they work for. Whether the uniform is a t-shirt screen-printed with your logo and a pair of jeans or a nice woven dress shirt with your company name embroidered on the chest and a nice pair of slacks, it is a great way to strengthen your brand and advertise your company.
Keep in mind that there is a good chance that your employees won’t only be wearing their uniforms while they are on the clock. Unless you have a locker room where your team typically changes clothes prior to the beginning of a shift, they will be wearing their uniforms when they are on their way to and from your business. They will essentially be walking billboards all the way from their home to your location. If you are a restaurant that offers delivery, having your drivers wear a uniform emblazoned with your logo means that each trip to a customer’s house will also provide an opportunity to build awareness of your business.
Strengthen Your Brand
When it comes to running any type of business, branding is extremely important. Your logo, the colors you use on your website and marketing materials, the images you use in advertising and several other elements work together to form your brand. When you require your employees to wear uniforms, that uniform can help strengthen your brand, too.
Your employee uniforms should be consistent with your overall brand. If a certain color is associated with your company–like dark green is associated with Starbucks–your employee uniforms should match. Emblazoning them with your logo, slogan or another element of your brand works well, too.
They Increase Professionalism
A uniform doesn’t have to be “fancy” to create a more professional appearance in your business. Customers perceive uniformed employees as more professional than those who do not wear uniforms. They also create an image of corporate success.
Having a strict dress code and employee uniform requirements also make it easier for customers to identify the members of your team. If they need assistance while visiting your establishment, they will be able to find staff members at a glance, which also helps enhance the perceived professionalism of your business.
Uniforms build a sense of confidence and trust, too. People have a natural tendency to trust people who are in uniform, so it just makes sense to require your employees to wear uniforms. They also set the standard for what the customer should expect from the employee, and they show that the company has high expectations for the people who work for it.
Improve Team Spirit
When everyone on your team is required to wear the same thing when they come to work, it creates a sense of identity and fosters feelings of unity. It also helps each person develop a sense of belonging that may not exist when everyone is allowed to wear whatever they want.
Having everyone dress the same way enhances team spirit and makes all the members of your team feel like they are on a level playing field. It eliminates jealousy and other negative feelings that may exist when employees are allowed to choose their own clothing. There’s no concern for who has the best outfit, who can afford the best brands and who is dressing inappropriately for the workplace because everyone is wearing the exact same thing. Every member of the team feels like a part of the company.
Uniforms Increase Productivity
Improving productivity probably wasn’t the first thing that came to mind when you started thinking about ordering uniforms for your staff, but it could be a huge bonus. Uniforms can help establish a “work” frame of mind and make your employees less likely to slack off during the day. When the people who work for you are allowed to wear clothing that is similar to what they would wear at home, they may never fully transition into the “work” mindset. As a result, they may never fully make the mental shift toward being more productive. Requiring your employees to wear uniforms could be the change that is necessary to help them get more done.
Protect Your Employees
In certain industries, uniforms are an absolute must because they help keep employees safe. If you own a construction company, for example, requiring the members of your team to wear high-visibility shirts can prevent them from being injured on the job site. In a more extreme example, firefighters need to wear specially designed gear that protects them from smoke, flames and high temperatures.
Think about your business and how the right dress code could help keep your employees safe. If you run a restaurant, requiring your kitchen staff to wear aprons or jackets could help protect them from burns. If you operate a manufacturing facility, close-fitting uniforms prevent workers from getting entangled in equipment. Though the dangers vary from one business to another, there are a lot of instances in which the right clothing can provide a degree of protection for workers.
Improve Security Around Your Business
In today’s world, safety and security are huge concerns. Ensuring that your entire team is outfitted in matching uniforms ensures that you (and other people) are able to quickly identify who works for your business and who does not. If, for example, your team is doing work on the campus of a college or university or near a government facility, having your staff wear uniforms makes it easier for everyone to identify who should be there and who shouldn’t. It also increases peace of mind for the people living and working in those areas because they can easily see whom everyone is and perceive why they are there.
Prevent Product Cross-Contamination
In certain businesses, cross-contamination can be a huge concern. In the healthcare and food industries, for example, cross-contamination can pose a major risk to human health. Developing a uniform program that helps eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination is a must in these situations.
You may require employees to change uniforms when they move from one area to another, or you might require them to wear certain things when handling certain materials or working on certain products. Wearing clothing that helps dissipate static electricity, for example, could be beneficial for businesses in which employees work on sensitive electronic components.
Uniforms Can Be Used as an Employee Benefit
While some people prefer working at jobs where uniforms are not required because they feel like being told what to wear robs them of their individuality, plenty of others see them as a benefit. When you purchase uniforms for your team members, they do not need to worry about spending money on clothing. They also do not have to deal with the hassle of running from store to store trying to find the perfect color shirt or the right pants to wear to work.
Are Employee Uniforms Right for Your Business?
Uniforms are appropriate in nearly every industry, but they are more beneficial in some than others. If you own a retail establishment, uniforms provide powerful branding and make it easy for customers to identify employees. Think about the striped t-shirts worn by Foot Locker employees or the red polos worn by Target employees. If you want to create that level of employee recognition in your store, investing in uniforms is the way to go.
They are great for restaurants, too, for many of the same reasons. They allow customers to easily identify wait staff, kitchen staff, managers, etc. The right uniforms also create an air of professionalism. Investing in chef jackets, for example, instantly elevates any dining establishment to the next level. Even requiring the members of your team to wear branded aprons–such as those worn by the wait staff at Cracker Barrel–can have a huge impact.
Polos are great for places like country clubs, scrubs are synonymous with the healthcare industry and dress shirts are great for hospitality staff. Uniforms are also great for businesses in the biotech and pharma industries as well as the manufacturing.
If you run a business, there is a good chance that employee uniforms are appropriate.
Choosing Uniforms for Your Business
By now, you are probably feeling pretty convinced that the benefits of uniforms outweigh the drawbacks by far. If so, though, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the potential options. After all, the options for creating a uniform are virtually limitless.
Before you start ordering clothes for your employees, take a minute to think about your business, your needs and what type of image you would like to portray. When you think about employee uniforms, stuffy, formal outfits may be the first things that come to mind. While these types of uniforms are absolutely appropriate for places like high-end boutiques, fancy restaurants and country clubs, they are not always the best choice for more laid-back environments.
If you own a more casual business, like a pizza joint or a relaxed retail establishment, there is no need for something fancy. Something as simple as a plain white t-shirt and a pair of jeans works great in those situations. Add an apron for an even more cohesive look, and you are good to go. Your employees will still be comfortable, but they will be dressed in matching uniforms that make them easy for your customers to identify.
In Conclusion
While employee uniforms are often a hotly debated subject, they do provide numerous benefits for both business owners and employees. They create a more professional workplace, strengthen your brand and can be used to turn your employees into walking advertisements. They also help build trust and help your customers recognize your staff members.
If you are considering uniforms for your business, take a moment to think about the type of image you would like to create. This will help you choose the garments that are best suited to your industry and your specific business. At ShirtMax, we carry a wide range of shirts that are perfect for uniforms. From plain t-shirts that can be screen-printed with your logo to polos, dress shirts and more, we have options that are perfect for any business. We even have industrial flat front pants that can be used when putting together employee uniforms.
Our blank apparel comes in several different colors, so there are options that are appropriate for any business. Whether you are looking for basic black or white or something a bit more colorful, we have many shades to choose from! We also carry a full range of styles and fits to ensure that you can find options that are as stylish as they are functional.
Browse our selection of wholesale apparel today and you are sure to find something that would work for your business. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. We’ve helped several business owners with their employee uniform needs and we would be honored to help you, too!
