Introducing a new uniform policy to your business can be very exciting, however, it always pays to understand what your employees think to help advise your new uniform. Help yourself by being proactive and engaging your workforce to address any potential concerns, early in the process.
How To Turn Gripes into Useful Insights
We’ve put together the 5 most common corporate uniform complaints, and provided you with tips on how to answer them in a way that will put smiles on everyone's faces.
1. “My workwear is uncomfortable”
One of the most common complaints made by employees about their uniforms is it's uncomfortable. The important thing to understand is why they are uncomfortable, so you can do something about it. Is it a poor fit, or is it poor fabric quality, is there another feature on the garment that is irritating your staff? Ill-fitting uniforms in some jobs can not only be uncomfortable, but it can make the employee feel self-conscious about their appearance – which may affect their job performance. Most reputable uniform suppliers will assist you to measure up your staff or give you the tools you need to make the task easier. Often this will resolve any complaints. If the budget allows, order a sizing grid to use in your office when sizing up each employee. A sizing grid is a set of garments in all the common sizes you will likely need for your workforce. This allows employees to try on a sample of the actual garment to check it fits. They will feel in control and can choose a size they feel comfortable in.
2. I don’t feel like “me” in a uniform
Conforming to a uniform can be confronting for some, or considered to be less glamorous by others. In fact, some people won't take a job if they think the uniform is unappealing! Common feedback is that employees can’t express themselves and they find uniforms “unflattering”. This can cause cultural unrest in your team if you don’t pay attention, resulting in underperforming, disgruntled individuals who may not feel as confident in a uniform they have not had input in. Where possible, allow some flexibility in the uniform policy for individuals to express themselves. That may come in the form of allowing them to choose what items in the uniform range they want to wear on a given day, or the flexibility to add complementary accessories, neckties or shoes of their choosing.
3. "I haven’t been issued with enough uniforms"
Some companies make the mistake of not supplying their employees with sufficient quantities of their uniform, which can result in additional stress for the staff member to ensure they have a clean uniform to wear each day. Ideally, you want enough uniform items to easily rotate between wearing, dirty, washing and drying at any given time. Consult your staff on the preferred number of items they feel they need to comfortably manage their uniforms on a weekly basis. Where possible, allow them the option to buy additional garments, at their own cost, if they require more than the allocated uniform budget.
4. "The uniform is outdated"
Updating or establishing a corporate uniform can find itself at the bottom of the priority list for many companies as they look to meet targets, achieve goals, and manage the day-to-day operations. Staff morale can take a hit when they realise that other companies have kept up with trends to evolve their corporate uniform, and they haven’t. This can lead to feelings of embarrassment, feeling out of place or unconfident on their way to and from work. Align your uniform objectives with your brand objectives. If you are aiming to for your brand to stay relevant and in touch with the latest trends in your industry, you should not underestimate the power of a relevant corporate uniform to help your brand stand out in customer’s minds. Ultimately, you want your employees to genuinely like their uniform and feel proud of wearing it.
5. "The uniform isn’t communicating properly"
Some companies operate on an “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” rule, but when it comes to uniforms you might want to reassess its relevance every couple of years. This will help you make sure the uniform still aligns with your company’s vision and customer base. Uniforms used to be just that – a uniform. These days, uniforms have a more sophisticated approach, where different departments can have purpose-specific, complimentary uniforms, that are appropriate to their different roles. Where possible, involve your employees in the decision-making process when kitting out the different teams in your business.
In summary...
People are always going to complain, but gaining appropriate insights early in the process will help you understand your employee's viewpoint, their concerns, and importantly, identify ideas that could add value to the uniform program.
View your team dress as more than just a “corporate uniform”. Think about it as an opportunity to show off your brand in its best light and advertise your business in a way that amplifies the success of the company as a whole.
If you are unsure how to manage a change to your uniform program, you might also be interested in our comprehensive resource – The Secrets To Eliminating Risk With Uniform Procurement – where we break down all the ways you can optimise your uniform procurement process by gaining valuable insight and feedback from the right the stakeholders, at the right time.