Uniforms and the Workplace: Comfort Affects Employee Morale
Before a company spends time and money on employee engagement, it’s a good idea to find out how comfortable employees are while at work. Safety is always the first concern, but employees who are comfortable at work tend to be more productive too. Improving your bottom line and making employees happier is a win-win, and one of the best ways to do that is to implement comfortable uniforms.
photo ijmaki via pixabay
Why are Workers Unproductive?
Office workers lose 86 minutes a day to distractions. That’s 1.5 hours a day wondering why the AC is set so high, why their coworkers are so loud and why they have to wear an uncomfortable uniform all day.
Comfort is one of the primary factors that influence motivation directly and indirectly. If your employees are not motivated, it affects how productive they are. Uncomfortable clothing, in particular, becomes a major distraction that slows down work processes. Conversely, employees who are comfortable at work perform better and are better at focusing on work tasks.
Comfortable uniforms, such as male scrubs, that last look great and help increase productivity in a medical or clinical setting can be a boost to morale and also improve the overall impression on clients.
Comfort as an Instant Morale Boost
Companies that show their regard for employee comfort and safety have a much easier time recruiting and retaining people. When employees feel that the company takes care of them, they feel much more a part of the process. This makes it far more likely they will give back to the company and focus on customer satisfaction. Comfortable people can concentrate on their job, not how itchy, hot or hard to clean their uniform is.
The Cost of Unproductive Employees
People who hate their uniforms are more likely to avoid going to work at all. This means more sick days that can rack up quickly. The Centers for Disease Control reported that productivity losses due to absenteeism cost employers about $1,685 per employee every year. Employees who are happy in their jobs are far less likely to call off work unless they have legitimate reasons.
Surveys
Employee surveys can reveal other perks and benefits that would help you boost morale and productivity without hiring new staff. Even small changes can make a big impact. For example, many employers place healthy snacks, energy drinks and other intangibles help your staff get past the midday doldrums and get more down.
Author: Jacob Maslow
