While your type of business might not require its employees to wear a uniform – unlike doctors, security guards and police officers for instance – or even to wear clothing with a company logo on it, there will likely be certain stipulations as to what type of clothing they can and cannot wear while performing their role, making a workwear policy important.
If your company doesn’t already have a workwear policy in place, should it have?
The importance of a workwear policy
Helping to create a strong sense of professionalism, uniforms often have the ability to unite workforces, and stimulate a more positive reputation for the company and brand as a whole. Some uniform or workwear policies are implemented to keep workers safe, such as is the case with Personal Protective Equipment, better known as PPE.
There are any number of reasons why a company might implement a uniform or dress code, from hygiene and professionalism, to safety, but no matter what your reason for stipulating what your employees can and cannot wear at work, having a policy in place can help ensure that everyone is aware of what’s required of them, and that everyone is treated equally.
What should be included in a workwear policy?
While this will almost certainly differ from company to company, there are some fundamental factors that should ideally be included and considered in all uniform and workwear policies:
- The policy’s purpose
Whether it’s to maintain brand image or promote safety, if you give employees a clear reason as to why the policy is in place, they’ll be far more likely to respond positively, and adhere to it.
- Who it applies to
Your entire workforce may not be required to wear a uniform or branded clothing, but the policy should clearly detail who the rules apply to, and why.
- Make your language clear and simple
If a policy is complex, longwinded or unclear, your employees will cite confusion as a reason not to stick to it, so make sure that your policy is written in simple language everyone can understand, and that all instructions are clear and not ambiguous.
- Are there any exceptions to the rules?
There may be certain times or conditions that mean employees are exempt from following the workwear uniform, such as if the climate changes and their indoor company clothing isn’t suitable for a task they need to complete outside. You will never be able to predict every eventuality, but your policy must account for basic exceptions, and be adjusted as and when required.
- What happens if an employee fails to follow the policy?
If your policy has made the wearing of a uniform while at work, mandatory, or demands that all employees adhere to a dress code while on the premises, you must put in place some form of disciplinary action for anyone who doesn’t comply. Then, if an employee repeatedly fails to adhere to the policy, the consequences need to be more severe, otherwise there’s no incentive for those who enjoy flouting the rules, to stick to the terms laid out in the policy. If you feel your company would benefit from a uniform or branded clothing, why not get in touch with the best Norwich workwear providers, who can kit out your entire workforce and have them looking smart and professional in next to no time. Affordable workwear embroidery in Norfolk is at your fingertips, and it could give your business the boost it deserves.