The Importance of a Breathable Work Uniform
The appearance of your company uniform is important for having your employees look professional and prepared for the job. This being said, appearance shouldn’t take priority over quality and comfort for your employees. Performance and function are just as important as overall aesthetic and professionalism with uniforms that are worn by employees. A key component of a functional and performance-oriented uniform is to be sure that it is breathable. There are many reasons why a breathable work uniform is important to the comfort, productivity, and professionalism of your employees. As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure your workers are comfortable and safe when doing their jobs. A breathable uniform can help contribute to that mission.
What Is Breathable Fabric
Breathable fabric means that air can flow freely through the fabric weave of the article of clothing. The construction and material of fabric determine its resistance to the movement of air in and out of the fabric. A garment or clothing article with a tighter woven fabric or a solid outer shell will offer less breathability, whereas garments with a looser weave or tiny pores in the fabric will allow for moisture and vapor molecules to get out without allowing for bigger molecules (such as raindrops and snowflakes) to get in. Cotton is one of the most reputable fabrics for its breathability and overall comfort. A fabric like cotton keeps the wearer cool and dry in warmer weather, making it a popular fabric choice for a variety of business shirts and pants. Cotton is a popular choice of fabric for many kinds of work uniforms because of its comfort, durability, and breathability.
Moisture Wicking and Breathability
For working in cooler climates or environments, such as outdoors or in a highly air-conditioned space, you will want to pair breathability with moisture-wicking when selecting work uniforms for your employees. Moisture is bad for keeping warm, so ensuring that uniforms can breathe and manage moisture is important for work done in cooler temperatures. Alternatively, if your employees are working in a hot environment or a labor-intensive position, moisture-wicking is just as important as breathability to ensure that sweat gets wicked up and doesn’t lead to overheating or getting chilled from the extra moisture.
For example, if your business is in the hospitality industry and your employees are chefs, waiters, and waitresses, they will be working in warm conditions and moving throughout their whole workday. It is important that you supply them with breathable and moisture-wicking chef and waiter uniforms that serve the functions of their day-to-day tasks.
Similarly, if your team spends a lot of time outdoors for work on job sites, they will require uniforms that are breathable and moisture-wicking to maintain temperature and moisture control while on the job to ensure your employees stay comfortable and warm. While moisture-wicking and breathability don’t mean the same thing and are different technology, they can be combined in a work uniform for extra comfort and temperature control.
Happier Employees
A happy team of employees makes all the difference when running a successful business. And a big part of ensuring happy employees is to be sure they have comfortable work clothes to work in. When choosing what kind of work uniform to give your employees, consider not just the look but also how your employees will feel while wearing it. Physical discomfort doesn’t just decrease productivity and focus, but it also makes for less than happy employees. If your employees are directly involved with customer service, this will likely shine through in a way that may decrease both customer and worker satisfaction. The answer? Make sure the work uniform your employees are wearing are comfortable, and a good place to start with that is to ensure uniforms are breathable for maximum comfort.
Your Employees Deserve the Comfort
Beyond customer care and the work environment, your employees simply deserve comfort. With all the love and hard work they put in to bring your company’s vision to life, what a better way to acknowledge that than to make your employees excited to jump into their work uniforms. Breathability will lend maximum comfort to your employees while they are on the job. Additionally, if your employees’ work is multifaceted and requires various garments to complete a work uniform, such as custom uniform work pants, company jackets, or company polos, then opt for the most comfortable and breathable options so your employees enjoy wearing them.
Safety
Aside from increased productivity, happier employees, and ensuring your workers get the comforts they deserve, one of the most practical reasons for providing breathable work uniforms is safety. Sounds out there perhaps, but breathable fabrics make for high-quality garments that ensure the wearer doesn’t overheat. Especially in settings like kitchens, factories, or other industrial settings, temperatures can become a safety hazard.
Ensure the fabric of your company’s work uniform offers enough breathability to ensure ample temperature regulation for the wearer. Additionally, cold temperature work can also benefit from breathable and moisture-wicking uniforms so that moisture released by the body doesn’t cause a chill. Overheating and freezing are both safety hazards that can be at least partially prevented by ensuring your workers get the breathable and comfortable uniforms they need to safely do their jobs.
To give your business a professional, cohesive, and clean look, it’s a wonderful idea to incorporate uniforms that reflect that ethos. You will not regret investing in higher quality fabrics to ensure your workers get to wear breathable and comfortable uniforms that will keep them happy and productive.