As everyone got kicked out of the workplace and sent home as much as possible during the pandemic, the need for uniforms as well as identifying work wear went way down. Due to the fact that remote work was required where possible, most employees basically just shifted to what they were comfortable wearing as casual clothes. A few retail points maintained a desk presence, but even their things were limited.
However, some two years later, folks are migrating back to the workplace, and there’s a huge push to keep casual wear going. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look right for many companies that want to maintain an image of professionalism, but at the same time be flexible and not drive valuable employees away. The days of the hard suit are long gone, aside from a few environments such as legal offices and executive board rooms. Even there, erosion of traditional wear is occurring as well.
The above said, companies can have both a professional look while also allowing for a more casual workwear environment. The trick is to use a uniform that doesn’t look like a uniform. This is where branded workwear can play a big role.
Companies are often loath to relax dress codes for fear of the lowest common denominator going even lower, i.e. the worker who decides to come in wearing cut-off sweats and flip-flops. While that’s an exaggeration, it can be a problem in a lot of different ways, as the way people dress is extremely varied. However, with branded workwear, folks can dress casually to an extent, including choices of different looks and colors, while still representing the company with an appearance that has a sense of uniform or professionalism to it. Branded work wear is possible in everything from collar shirts to jackets to polos to sweaters and blouses. It’s simply a matter of providing enough choice to meet the majority of interests while maintaining a set portfolio of appearances with the company logo or agency name on the clothing.
There is also a sense of a team factor involved. When people are in a traditional uniform, everyone feels like a drone. They are just a cog in a bigger machine, and only the higher-ups are allowed any kind of differentiating look. This was a common problem in factories in the early 20th century. It made sense at the time, as factory work was dirty and exposed to a lot of debris, so workwear was rough, durable, and the same. However, as people shifted to an office world for most jobs, clothing shifted as well. People didn’t want to just be another sardine, as emphasized by cubicle farms.
Today, remote work has proven that productivity can go even higher, especially when people get the ability to control their own work environment, most of which is done in people’s own homes. So, bringing them back into the office is going to feel like a bucket of cold water, drowning or dampening that productivity that companies have enjoyed through the pandemic.
The way to solve the cold water reaction is to give people the ability to still have some flexibility and customization about how they look but do so in a way that unites the company or organization. If looking for custom work uniforms CT-made resources, branded workwear meets both needs. Provide a selection, and people will adapt to the product and item they feel the most comfortable with.
Those who want to wear collared shirts can still do so, while others can wear casual polos instead. Jackets provide a sense of camaraderie as well as functionality, and they provide free advertising for the employees out in public. The bottom line is that productivity can be maintained or increased when people are comfortable with how they work as much as where they work. Make it miserable, and people just leave for greener pastures.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
