Uniforms - reasons to hate them
Some people wearing uniforms hate them with a passion. They dispise all aspects of the uniform. These aspects include the intangible values the uniform tries to instill in the wearer.
But what prompts this barefaced hatred to an institution existing to promote a positive purpose in the workplace? Why is the work uniform hated by some people?
There are three core categories the uniform haters can be broadly segregated into: quality, symbolism and design.
Quality
The primary complaint among this group is the quality of the materials the work uniform is made of. They dislike the quality because it may give the wearer a level of discomfort that makes their job far more difficult. This cause of this may be the selection of a low quality fabrics thats rips or tears with little to no force applied to it.
Work uniforms of bad quality are hated unanimously by all wearers because of this physical aspect. It is valid to argue with being forced to wear something of such a bad quality that they would never pay for these clothes. So if you are in charge to outfit your staff choose the fabrics wisely.
Symbolism
People hating the symbolism of a uniform are a lot more tricky to deal with. The complaints of this group deal rather with the perceived worth of the job and the requirements of wearing the uniform than the physical aspects of the work uniform itself. The individuals in this group complain about the uniform taking away their sense of self or their identity. They think the uniform is demeaning them. A more comfortable or more stylish uniform can’t fix these complaints as the members of this group are more concerned about their loss of individuality.
To deal with this group you have to provide positive reasons on why the work uniform is chosen. You should outline the basic purposes of adopting an organizational dress like solidarity, identity as a whole or team spirit. Educate the dissatisfied people on the positive reasons for wearing a proper work uniform. Perhaps the individual is unaware of the uniform being intimately intertwined with the corporate culture or the business model. State clear guidelines and reasons as part of your employee handbook.
Design
The third group of uniform haters are complaining about the aesthetics of the uniform itself. Grotesque colors or logos may be a point as the uniform hideously ill fitting no matter what the sizing is. The wearers think they are looking ridiculous taking away their sense of self worth or pride.
If you look at the human element no one likes to look stupid. Especially when you have to deal with paying customers. Consider this when designing the work uniform.