Should You Require Uniforms or Stick to a Dress Code?

As an employer, you have many decisions to make on a regular basis. When it comes to your employees, you not only have to ensure you hire the top talent, but also that they work well together and represent your brand. Every business is different, and the answer to if you should require uniforms can often be obvious. But some businesses have different needs that might not make this decision as obvious.

If you’re torn between whether to require business uniforms or a dress code, let’s consider the different types of dress codes and when to choose them or uniforms.

Pros and Cons of Uniforms

Uniforms are ideal for industries in which employees need to be easily recognizable. If you have customers wandering around your retail store or restaurant looking for assistance, they’ll turn around and walk right out the door if they can’t find help. Uniforms also do a good job of representing your brand. And, unlike with a dress code that lets employees wear whatever they want, you don’t have to worry about staff misinterpreting the dress code and misrepresenting your brand.

Uniforms benefit employees in ways they may not realize at first. For example, uniform shirts promote a sense of teamwork since they serve as a casual reminder that you’re all part of a team working together for a unified purpose. Additionally, employees don’t have to stress about what to wear or invest in a whole new wardrobe for work when they have a uniform to rely upon.

Professional Dress Codes

Formal dress codes aren’t as common these days as they once were. However, they still exist in careers where employees are expected to dress to impress. For example, if you’re a CEO trying to win over a new client in the corporate arena, a suit, and tie, dress, or other types of custom professional business attire is ideal. Industries that want to promote their brand with professional business attire tend to include finance and law. Casual clothing like jeans or even khakis is typically not acceptable. That’s not to say that khakis and jeans can’t look professional in certain industries, however.

Business Casual Dress Codes

Business casual dress codes are more common these days than formal, professional dress codes. This is especially true in industries where employees don’t have to entertain clients or don’t have clients who visit the office. Industries such as technology, education, and communications are likely to have business casual dress codes. They may not require something like a custom business dress, but that’s not to say it doesn’t have to look professional. Some business casual dress codes are very detailed to make it clear to employees what’s acceptable and what isn’t.

For example, employers may have to specifically detail that employees aren’t allowed to wear ripped jeans or tank tops. They may even have rules regarding footwear. Or maybe they won’t be allowed to wear a shirt with logos or graphics. Although most employees enjoy the freedom of a business casual dress code, some prefer the ease of uniforms. As an employer, you need to ensure your staff understands their dress code so they don’t misrepresent your brand.

Casual Fridays and Casual Summers

Some companies incorporate a combination of professional and casual attire. They do this by designating one day of the week as business casual days, allowing employees to dress casually if they don’t have client meetings. Or they may allow employees to dress even more casually during summer, maybe even allowing them to wear shorts, and sandals, or sneakers. It is a great way to reward your employees and make them look forward to coming to work that day. Some employers even find that their employees are more productive in casual environments. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll still need to enforce a dress code so you can help employees make informed decisions.

For example, if you don’t specifically create a policy that bans flip-flops or revealing clothing, some employees might show up wearing it, thus misrepresenting your company’s image. Some employers find success with providing their staff with custom business casual work clothing so employees can fall back on a T-shirt or polo shirt if they can’t think of anything else to wear that fits the dress code.

When choosing between requiring uniforms or implementing a dress code at your place of business, keep these different considerations in mind. Most importantly, once you decide, get it on paper so you can follow through if any staff members fail to comply with your requirements.