Go into any major business in the service sector, and you’ll see everyone in a sharp uniform. This doesn’t happen by chance – big businesses know that a uniform gives employees a sense of teamwork, equality, and pride in their brand.
If you’re a business owner, a uniform could give your business all these benefits. But there’s more – they can also keep your employees safe and give you a strong identity to communicate to customers. And it all starts with a strong uniform policy.
Read on for our guide on how to create a uniform policy for your business.
Outline Your Goals
Before putting pen to paper, your management team needs to be clear on what you’re hoping to achieve. Various business needs may inform your uniform policy. These could include:
- Need to communicate brand identity to customers
- Foster greater feeling of team spirit among employees
- Generate a sense of equality among team members
- Quickly differentiate team workers from others
- Keep employees safe
Likely, your policy will include most or all of these areas. By listing them in order of priority, a clearer picture of your final policy will begin to emerge.
Customizing the Uniform
Your uniform is going to get a lot of wear and tear. You need to choose fabrics and designs that will wear well. Additionally, when customizing items, company shirts, and hats, consider what will wear well.
Using an embroidery company is probably the best way to go. Embroidery is incredibly versatile and can be customized to create your logo or company name in thread. It has the added advantage of being far more hardwearing than printing.
Company hats are also a great way to introduce a professional look. Different colors can be used for different teams to make it easy to distinguish employees at a glance.
Key Policy Elements
Once you have a clear idea of the purpose of the policy and the general appearance, you can begin to think about the details of the policy. Investing time in getting this right now will pay dividends in the long run. Your employees will know where they stand, and it will be easier to enforce.
Give consideration to:
- Accessories, including jewelry and hair fixings
- Grooming standards
- Footwear
- Uniform provisions – how many provided, how often replaced
- Uniform maintenance
- Uniform damage
Any choices that employees can make should be set out in the provisions section. You may choose to wear a shirt or a polo shirt, depending on the job role. There may also be seasonal considerations, such as sweaters/hoodies being provided during the winter.
If certain requirements are there for safety reasons, be transparent about this. For example, closed two shoes may be required. Initially, this may meet with some resistance. If the policy is clear that this is for safety and is actually protection, it will be easier for employees to comply.
Consult the Law
There is one area in uniform policy design no company can afford to ignore. The policy must comply with laws related to equality and discrimination.
When considering items to include in your uniform policy, it is crucial to allow for flexibility. This will include those of different backgrounds and lifestyles. For example, a uniform policy should not set requirements for women that it doesn’t have for men.
Additionally, religious beliefs and practices need to be taken into consideration. Accommodations may include allowing the wearing of headscarves. Certain hairstyles may also have religious or cultural significance. It should also be noted that some religions may have prohibitions against wearing certain articles of clothing, such as pants.
The idea of a uniform policy may be to improve uniformity and consistency across the business. But this should not be done at the expense of promoting diversity. Plan carefully and consult a legal specialist in this area. Then you’ll be able to accommodate your diverse workforce while getting the benefits of working in uniforms.
Consultation Period
Your employees are going to be the ones wearing the uniform. Therefore, it’s important when setting the policy to do everything you can to get them on board. No uniform will please everybody – but by consulting, you can show that you value their input.
Your employees will bring valuable insights about comfort and suitability for the tasks they need to perform while wearing them. They’ll also tell you how realistic it is to keep them laundered and looking professional week in week out.
It’s best to consult once the basic framework of the policy is in place. Set clear parameters for feedback. Make it clear that you are not asking for feedback on whether there should be a policy or not. But be open to listening to their concerns on style, comfort, materials, and religious/social considerations.
Enforcing the Policy
For the sake of transparency and consistency, your policy needs to set out how it will be enforced.
Consistency is important, so consider how other company policies such as those on punctuality are enforced. There should be clear consequences outlined if employees do not wear their uniforms. Or if they do not keep it to the required standard or are deficient in their grooming.
It’s good to tackle any breaches of policy early before trends develop that are difficult to root out. Ensure that any disciplinary measures outlined in the uniform policy are in line with all relevant workplace laws.
Communicating The Policy
Your policy is set, you have chosen your uniforms, and you have a rollout date. Now it’s time to inform your workforce.
This may be a big change, so choose an approach that will get them on board. Usually, big changes are best announced in person by senior management. Details can follow in writing.
The Bottom Line: The Right Uniform Policy for Your Business
Having a clear uniform policy is a great way to promote teamwork, equality, and a sense of pride in the business. They also provide a clear visual for customers. Creating a dress code could be just what your business needs to take it to the next level.
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