Whether your business is a fast-food restaurant, an appliance repair company, or a retail store, there are many advantages to introducing a company workwear policy. Workwear enhances customer confidence by ensuring that your team are instantly recognisable. Workwear is also good for your team. It introduces a sense of unity and removes unhelpful distinctions that may arise when employees are allowed to choose their clothing. However, for a workwear policy to be accepted and successful, it must be implemented well. Here are two steps that you must take before you introduce workwear to your organisation.
Consult with your staff
Detailed consultation across all departments is vital before you introduce workwear. Within your organisation, there may be jobs that involve standing most of the day, jobs that involve plenty of bending and stretching and jobs that involve working in different temperatures. No single workwear uniform is going to be ideal for everyone. Find out what characteristics matter most to your employees. If possible, obtain samples from your workwear supplier so that your employees can try out the clothing in a range of situations and see which items are best suited for their role. In addition to the different roles within your company, you also have people with different body shapes. Not all types of clothing look great on every body shape. When selecting workwear, try to think about what it will look like on everyone who works with you. Your employees will also be able to help you think through the durability of the clothing. If your employees are serving in a retail environment, there may not be much stress on the uniform, but if they are working in a warehouse or a maintenance department, the clothing must be much more durable. Workwear that is easily damaged could become a source of constant tension between you and your employees.
Get the design right
If a workwear policy works well, it can be a constant source of free advertising for your business. Clothing marked with your company logo or slogan will remind people who you are and what you do. However, unless you consider it carefully, you could be squandering a valuable opportunity. Ensure that any branding on the clothing is printed in a location that will always be visible, whatever the employee is doing. Make sure that the printing is clear and sharp enough to be seen from a distance. Use colours that will stand out well from the colour of the clothing and that will convey the message you want your customers to see.
Share21 October 2021
I never really suited working in someone else's business. I couldn't see the point of working hard to make someone else money. I have been working at building my own businesses since I started in the workforce and this blog has stories about how small business owners have enjoyed being their own bosses. A lot of people worry about work-life balance but one of the best ways to control the stresses of working and having a personal life is to work in small businesses, where you can combine these part of your life. This blog is all about managing work-life balance as a business owner and has tips on the best sorts of business to have flexible work. I hope it's useful to people looking to manage their out work-life balance while being a business owner.