Is a company uniform good for my business?
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels
Many companies choose to supply a uniform for their staff. But is it the right choice for your business? There can be pros and cons to introducing a uniform. Below are some of the pros and cons so that you can weigh up whether to introduce a uniform.
The pros:
It can boost your company’s professionalism
A uniform can show customers that you are an established business that can be trusted. The likes of embroidered workwear could be used to display important aspects of visual branding such as your logo and colours – this will show customers that you’ve developed a brand identity and that you’re serious about your company.
It can encourage equality and unity in the team
When all your employees are wearing the same clothing, it can create a sense of equality. It could help to bring together employees from different social backgrounds and prevent cliques from forming.
It can have health and safety benefits
Certain clothing could pose a danger in the workplace. For instance, long sleeves could be a danger when working with machinery or certain clothing may be too dark to wear when working outdoors at night. A uniform can help you to keep employees safe by deciding exactly what clothing is suitable for the job.
Customers can easily distinguish staff members
A uniform also allows customers to easily identify members of staff. In a store where uniforms aren’t worn, it could be difficult to know who is a staff member and who is a customer.
The cons:
It’s an extra cost to consider
Designing and supplying a uniform costs money. It could be particularly expensive if you have a large workforce. Consider whether you realistically have the funds to provide your employees with a uniform or whether it’s more practical to let them choose their clothing. Take into account that there may be ways to save money on manufacture by choosing design features.
Some staff may view it as a punishment
If you previously had a dress code and employees were taking advantage of this, choosing to then introduce a uniform could be seen as a punishment. It’s important to reassure employees that this is not the case. Involving staff in the uniform design process could be one way to show that it’s not a punishment.
Settling on an inclusive design can be difficult
It’s important that your uniform does not cause offence to employees. A unisex uniform could be a better option than forcing men and women to wear different uniforms. You should also ensure that employees are still able to wear religious items of clothing such as head scarves or turbans. The issue is often knowing where to make exceptions.
Should you introduce a uniform?
A uniform could be beneficial in a client-facing business – it could help your business to look more professional and it could help customers distinguish staff members. In cases where health and safety is important, it could also be an easy way to enforce certain clothing rules. You just need to be certain that customers will not take offence to it and that you have the budget to introduce a uniform.
