There are many benefits to implementing a dress code at your workplace. Not only does staff clothing eliminate the hassle of choosing what to wear to work, but it also has several other advantages to your employees. Staff clothing can provide your workforce with a feeling of unity as well as equality. For the customer, uniforms give the message that you are a serious competitor in your field. It also differentiates employees from customers, making it easy for customers to identify your employees and get the answers they need about your products and services.
If you’ve recently overhauled your company’s brand, employee clothing can provide increased brand awareness, passively advertising your business for you to many interested people around the clock.
Why Dress Codes Can Be a Challenge
Implementing a dress code can be one of the most difficult things to do as a business owner. This is because it can sometimes be interpreted as an intrusion on an employee’s personal space, or a removal of an employee’s right to choose. This is why a dress code must be introduced properly the first time.
Another potential problem with the introduction of a dress code is the likelihood that it can leave room for interpretation if points are not stated explicitly enough. This can cause the undermining of your policy by employees.
How to Introduce a Dress Code
It can be difficult to introduce a dress code to employees who have been used to wearing what they choose to work. However, this task is not impossible. The key to a successful introduction of a dress code is in being open and honest.
Compose an Explanatory Letter
A letter to staff about the new dress code can begin with the fact that any new policies can be difficult to get used to, especially when those changes affect personal space. Then, you may consider listing the reasons for implementing the dress code.
For example, you may have found that different departments in your company have different standards for what they consider to be appropriate work wear. This may have led to arguments about why some clothing is and isn’t acceptable from one department to another. As such, you may have identified a dress code as the solution to this issue.
If your company has been experiencing an increase in growth and sales, this can provide a good reason for implementing a dress code, as the cohesive look of staff members will communicate professionalism and reliability to customers.
Involve Your Employees
You can take all of the time you need to implement your dress code; there is no time limit. That being said, why not involve your employees in the selection of their uniforms? Issue an initial memorandum to all employees which includes pictures of the proposed style and colour of your new work wear, and give them a deadline for responding with their questions or concerns.
It may take a few attempts before the majority of your employees seem satisfied with the proposed employee uniforms. However, if your employees are involved in the choice about what they will be wearing to work, they will be more likely to adopt the dress code without retaliation.
Of course, there is no way to possibly please every employee when implementing a dress code. However, the transition can be made much more smoothly with open communication. Ensure that all employees know that their input is valued, and that their dislikes are important. Although it may seem like a small thing, employees that feel as though they are being heard by owners and management will have higher morale and ultimately be able to do a better job for you.
