You might read a lot about the benefits of providing custom uniforms to the staff on your business’ bottom line but there is limited information available about how they improve company culture. Custom work uniforms can be an added benefit to your employees, saving them money and giving them a sense of unity with teammates and other staff. With the right uniform, your bottom line and company culture will benefit.
Of course, choosing the best uniforms for your staff is no small task. Consider higher-end options like custom screen printing or embroidery to help your employees shine and build brand recognition. There are lots of great advantages to supplying your employees with custom uniforms. Here are just three of the top ones.
Three Advantages of Providing Uniforms to Staff
#1: Uniforms Create Staff Unity
Custom uniforms make employees part of your brand. One study on the impact of uniforms for workers in the hospitality industry noted, “Uniforms can create a sense of belonging and can aid to a certain feeling, expressing that individuals belong to a group or a business unit.” Uniforms create a culture of inclusivity in a workplace, improving job satisfaction by giving employees a greater sense of ownership over their work. This unity also extends to job performance. An employee in a uniform has a more professional and positive attitude, which enhances their productivity.
Of course, unity only goes so far as the quality of your uniform. A poorly made, drab, and ill-fitting garment could have the opposite effect on your staff. Before rolling out a new uniform code, it’s helpful to get staff feedback on things like fit, colors, and even logos to ensure your new uniform is something your staff will actually enjoy.
#2: Uniforms Improve Customer Satisfaction
Most customers prefer employees in uniform, based on a survey completed by Harris Interactive. In it, 65% of respondents stated that seeing an employee in uniform gave them a favorable impression of a company. They also noted that uniforms made them feel like the company cared about its employees and increased the likelihood of doing business with them.
Uniforms also improve the customer experience. When a customer goes to a business, they want to be able to easily identify who works there so they can get help if needed. Using custom uniforms with screen-printed or embroidered company logos can help customers identify your staff.
#3: Uniforms Save Money
Uniforms provide an added benefit to your team by saving them money. Providing them for free or at cost ensures employees don’t have to invest in a fancy workplace wardrobe. By separating the clothing they wear to work from what they wear during their free time, their clothes also last longer, boosting their savings. In some cases, employees can even request a tax write-off for the money they spend on uniforms for work.
Uniforms can also save businesses money, though more indirectly. As well-designed uniforms improve company culture, companies can expect to see reduced turnover and increased productivity. They also save time and effort in creating and maintaining a dress code.
Tips for Choosing Custom Work Uniforms
For uniforms to benefit your business and employees, you need to keep your employees in mind when selecting a design. There are various factors to consider. Here are just a few:
- Be conscious of fit – It’s often a good idea to consider several different styles of uniform to ensure a fit that works for everyone. Employees should be able to move freely and not be distracted by a tight or ill-fitting uniform. Testing out several different styles can help you determine the right style for all your employees.
- Pick the material carefully – There are all types of fabrics out there: moisture wicking, soil resistant, wrinkle-free and more. When choosing the material for your uniforms, consider your climate, your employees’ job duties, and the total expenses.
- Choose embroidery or screen printing over patches – When some companies switch to uniforms, they try to follow the cheapest possible route by giving employees patches to sew onto clothes they purchase themselves. However, this creates an inconsistent look and undoes any savings benefits to your employees. Consider higher-end options like screen-printing or embroidery to keep results consistent and employees happy.
When considering employee uniforms for the first time, you may want to set up a panel of employees to help you choose. As they’ll be the ones wearing the uniforms every day, it’s helpful to give them an opportunity to express their honest opinions.
Getting Started
Inproma offers a wide range of styles for custom uniforms, as well as screen printing and embroidery options you can choose to kick-off your employee uniform program. All our choices can be customized to allow you to find the style and fit that best represent your brand and the employees that support it. If you’re ready to offer custom uniforms to your staff, let’s talk.
