Uniform Ideas to Keep Your Servers Cool and Professional
Your servers have a lot on their plates — literally. They’re darting between the dining room and the kitchen all day long. They’re juggling multiple orders, dealing with customers, and handling everything with as much speed and precision as they possibly can. It only makes sense that they wear comfortable waiter uniforms to help them stay fresh and cool on the hottest days of the year.
In restaurants, that’s often easier said than done. The heat naturally produced in kitchens can make it tough, especially when coupled with factors like crowded dining spaces and outdoor patios exposed to constant heat, humidity, and sunshine. As a manager, you must make sure that your team has what they need to stay in great condition from start to finish. Help make their shifts simpler during summer with a few of these suggestions.
Look for the Right Fabric
Texture matters at any time of the year. The softer the fabric, the better your staff will feel. No one wants to weave in between tables and feel a pesky itchy sensation on their skin or worry about materials that irritate when worn all day long. That’s why it’s crucial to focus on choosing the right fabric for summertime restaurant uniforms.
The key is to choose lighter weight materials that don’t restrict movement and that pull moisture away from the skin. Breathable cotton blends are ideal because they promote ventilation throughout the day, wick away sweat, and keep servers dry and cool while they’re on the move. That’s not just vital for their comfort — it also helps them put their best face forward and feel as confident as possible, which in turn helps your business shine.
Look for Easy-Care Instructions
As simple as it may be to throw garments in the washing machine, how they hold up over time truly matters. That’s especially true of waitstaff uniforms, which need to look polished at all times so that they accurately represent your restaurant while also providing your staff with comfort so that they can easily move, stretch, bend, and negotiate crowds without trouble. And because summer is such a steamy time of year, it’s not enough to wash uniforms every couple of days — it’s important to do so at least daily to ensure that everything stays fresh and clean.
You don’t have to sacrifice simplicity in exchange for those important factors, though. The most appropriate custom business workwear in any industry are easy to maintain. They relieve workers of the burden of taking those extra steps to smooth out wrinkles, for example, and to remove stains. Easy-care fabrics are ready to go as soon as they’re dried. They look pristine, don’t shrink down, and don’t hold on to those pesky stains that are likely to occur in dining establishments.
Look for Lighter Colors
Lighter color palettes are synonymous with warm weather. Darker shades naturally absorb more light, creating more heat as a result and leaving servers warm and uncomfortable during those long shifts. Since summer can be a busy time for restaurants, it’s even possible that some of your staff may work overtime — and for that, they deserve to be as cool and comfortable as they can be!
You can help that along by swapping your traditionally darker hues for lighter shades during the warmest months of the year. Switch those gray and black company polo shirts for a shade like pale blue or white — or anything that reflects your business appropriately. This is also a great opportunity to show off your logo. Lighter shades naturally help darker symbols stand out. You can opt for the same tactic if you’re shopping for aprons, shorts, or pants.
Look for Little Extras
In some eateries, it’s not unusual for waitstaff to wear business hats. It’s more common in very casual environments, such as ice cream shops and smoothie bars. When everyone on the team wears the same cap, it sets a theme of unification and helps establish a cohesive look that’s appealing to both staff and customers alike.
Summer is a great time to upgrade those caps! Change up the usual darker colors for a lighter hue. If you’re sending your team out to provide food samples at an outdoor festival, it’s a great time to add a few event visors to the agenda — your team can show off your company’s logo while wearing matching uniform T-shirts. If you tend to participate in community events often, it’s worth creating an outdoor uniform that your servers can wear throughout summer.
With the right clothes in their warm-weather arsenal, your servers will perform their best — and feel their very best. That will make all the difference to your establishment’s reputation.