Working class uniforms should be comfortable, washable, durable, and approved by your staff. Choose the wrong product, and you could hurt worker morale. Pick the right ones, and your employees could be more productive and likely to stick with you.
Keep reading to find out why working class uniforms are so important, and learn how to find the products that are right for your staff.
What Are Working Class Uniforms?
The term working class uniforms typically refers to outfits worn by people who do manual jobs. People like this might fix cars, clean industrial equipment, clean up spills, and tackle other messy tasks that might result in soiled uniforms.
Few people want to wear their own clothes when doing jobs like this. Uniforms ensure that they don’t have to ruin and replace their own clothing over and over again. According to research from Gallup, 23% of all American workers wear uniforms to work every day.
Uniforms don’t just benefit employees. Research done in hotel environments suggests that uniforms can impact a customer’s intent to return. When staff members look clean and put together, visitors are more likely to come back again. When staff looks dirty or unprofessional, they’re less likely to revisit the place.
What to Look for in Working Class Uniforms
Choosing the right product for your staff members is important. Here’s what to look for when you’re shopping for uniforms:
Comfort
People in working-class jobs are on the move during the workday. They need uniforms that can move with them, protect their skin, and keep them dry. In studies about uniforms in construction environments, workers say that pressure has a strong impact on comfort. In other words, uniforms that pinch or don’t stretch are less comfortable than those that move well with the wearer.
Universal Fit
The gender gap is closing, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Women are entering the workforce in large numbers, and they’re taking jobs that were once exclusively done by men. However, researchers say most uniforms were made with the male body in mind.
The best uniforms will fit bodies of all shapes and sizes. That could mean they are made with elastic materials, drawstrings, and darts. These additions can make for a better fit for everyone.
Washability
We’ve discussed comfort and overall fit. In studies of employee satisfaction with uniforms, staff cite those two factors, as well as ease of cleaning, as critical. Working class people will get their uniforms dirty regularly. They want uniforms that will easily come clean when they’re washed.
Some uniforms are pretreated with additives that make cleaning easier. Others are made of durable colors or fabrics that can be pretreated and washed with harsh chemicals.
Durability
Employers don’t want to replace their uniforms every time they’re dirty or used. The right uniforms will hold up to hard use and regular cleaning. Researchers are examining ways to make fabrics more durable, and you may see those elements on labels on the clothing. You may also see things like reinforced knees, stronger elbows, zippered pockets, and waterproofing.
Employee Satisfaction
A majority of Americans haven’t been satisfied with work since 2005. Many of them cite poor communication between staff and management. If you’re introducing uniforms for the first time, ensuring your staff will like them is critical. When people have a choice between products, they might be more likely to wear the one finally chosen.
Should You Personalize Working Class Uniforms?
It takes a little time and effort to make your uniforms unique to your organization. However, doing so can come with big benefits.
When your uniform is marked with your name, your logo, or both, your customers will know the people to talk to if they have questions while on site. Wearing your logo can also remind your staff that they’re on the job for you.
Follow best practices on logo placement, and ensure you’re working with a partner that can make your branding shine on your uniforms. Over time, customers will begin to associate the specific look and feel with your company. Every time they see that branding, they’ll be reminded of your good service.
Consider Renting Your Working Class Uniforms
Renting your uniforms is both hassle-free and cost-effective when you partner with us here at Alsco Uniforms. For more than 135 years, we’ve worked with companies both large and small, providing them with personalized and clean uniforms.
Our uniforms are durable, stylish, and very comfortable. We can customize them to suit your specific branding needs. And if they’re damaged on the job, we replace them quickly and efficiently. You don’t have to worry about continually managing your uniform inventory. We handle that for you.
We also offer full commercial laundering services, ensuring your uniforms always look, feel, and smell fresh. Contact us today to find out more about how we can simplify your uniform management, allowing you to focus on other areas of your business.
References
Casual Work Attire Is the Norm for U.S. Workers. (September 2023). Gallup.
Effect on Staff Appearance on Customer Satisfaction and Revisit Intention. (August 2020). International Journal of Services, Economics and Management.
Wearing Comfort of Two Construction Work Uniforms. (October 2015). Construction Innovation.
Employment Differences of Men and Women Narrow with Educational Attainment. (July 2023). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Analysis of User Satisfaction for Unisex Medical Uniforms. (September 2017). Research Journal of Textile and Apparel.
The Impact of Employee Uniforms on Job Satisfaction in the Hospitality Industry. (January 2017). Journal of Hotel and Business Management.
Recent Progress on Wear-Resistant Materials: Designs, Properties, and Applications. (March 2021). Advanced Science.
The Importance of Job Satisfaction in Today’s Workforce. (November 2023). University of Southern California.
Uniform Rental Services Market Size 2024 And Analysis by to Companies | Alsco, Cintas, UniFirst, Aramark Uniform Services. (July 2024). Trend Market Research.