[uniscaper]

I was just reading an article on uniforms for employees and I agree with the idea that to put uniforms on my people is the right and professional thing to do.

So, here's my dilemma, do I pay for all of their uniform needs? Do I start them out with a few t-shirts and ask them to by sweatshirts/coats? Or do we give them a clothing allowance and let them get what they believe they need?

It has been an issue we've been toiling over for a while. We used to buy all the clothing for them and the cost was pretty substantial so we stopped a few years ago. We require them to purchase some t-shirts and now when it gets a little colder out they put on their own outer garments and totally hide our company color and logos.

Also, if we require them to purchase their own how do I handle the situation when their clothing starts to look ratty?

[uniscaper]

Another thought,

Do your crew members and leaders wear different styles of shirts so the customer could more easily see who is in charge?

[TrickyDick]

I'm interested to hear how others handle this. We provide t shirts and sweatshirts for our crew. When it gets really cold or is raining then people wear what they need to over them to be comfortable. We ask everyone to wear khaki pants or shorts and they are usually good about it but we cut them some slack since not everyone can afford to by a few pairs of new work pants to match what we want.

I guess my feeling is that everyone should have enough tshirts and cool weather clothes to show up every day looking relatively clean which means 5 shirts and a sweatshirt. If you are going to demand they wear matching pants you either need to give them time and some leeway or have them buy thier own and reimburse them.

In fact that is what I am going to start doing. I just decided. Everybody gets reimbursed for 2 pairs of pants up to $X. Small price to pay to look more professional.

[AZTLANLC]

I buy my guys embroidery t-shirts I give 6 to each, new recruits get also 6 but I retain the cost of the t-shirts for a month, if they quit before that I keep the money to buy new shirts.
I buy jackets around this time of the season from JC penney, Sears or any store that have a huge sales last year I bough 10 columbia jackets for $250 I don't put a logo on those as long as they are the same model and color they look much more professional then regular jackets.
As far as pants go everyone knows that they have to bring blue jeans, the only slight problem was that they look a little different this season will give them half the cost of the pants and have them buy them at the same place.

As far as different styles for formers and such I'm the only that has a nicer shirt at this moment, I always introduce my foreman to all new customers, I think give them different style of shirt to them will not make easier for customers but it will do a lot for employee moral

[Cochran]

I also provide t-shirts for my crew. I provide 5 short-sleeve and 3 long-sleeve tshirts. For the most part, our climate treats us well and long sleeve tshirts are sufficient for the cooler temps. Of course, right now it's cold and drizzly so they're covered up with jackets. I've contemplated jackets, but haven't gone that far yet since they wouldn't get sufficient use out of them. I am leaning toward zip-up hoodies right now for the cooler temps, but I am still evaluating this decision. I do provide the company clothing for my employees without cost to them since many of our employees live paycheck to paycheck. I don't give tshirts out to new employees until they've been with us at least a month and show promise in staying. We do ask them to dress appropriately for the job, though.

[Stonehenge]

We provide 5 t-shirts and two sweatshirts. They are required to wear khaki pants, short or long (we recommend long but they can do whatever they want) - we reimburse the pants up to the price for a pair of tan Dickies, the pants we recommend. If they go off the menu that's fine - we only reimburse up to what Dickies would have costed them.

But over the years we started having a probation period, so we weren't spending $200 per employee on new gear only to fire them after two weeks. After 3 months, they get the logo'd apparel.

If they are longer term employees and the clothes wear out, we'll replace the shirts as needed, and the pants as is reasonable.

[Matt Kulp]

We give all new hires some t-shirts for there probation period, which they pay a small fee for. After the probation period, we sign them up for a uniform service in which they get pants, shorts, shirts, and (2) jackets. There are enough of each to last one week, and the wrest are turned in for cleaning on a weekly schedule. I do charge my guys $15 biweekly for the service, and have had no problems. They love the fact that they don't have to wash or repair ripped garments. It does cost us about $250 per year per employee.

We used to give out t-shirts every year and request they get khaki pants, but I always had a problem with the upkeep. It seemed like every month we were handing out shirts to guys that either damaged and/or lost the shirt. We also had issues with the guys not washing there clothes and wearing the same shirt or pants for a couple days straight. This did not look professional and there wasn't really anything I could do, except give them another shirt or fire them. So we went with the uniforms, and I can honestly say that I will never go back to the old method. If the shirts and pants get ripped, they get fixed. If they get stained and damaged beyond repair, they get replaced for no charge.

It may not be for everyone, but it has worked for us. Now are biggest gripe is getting the guys to keep there shirts tucked in.

[martinjohn]

We use a uniform rental service. Each employee gets 2 weeks worth of shirts and pants and 2 jackets. Foreman have different colored shirts then laborers. The service comes once a week to pick up the dirty and wash. I deduct half of the cost from each employee's check weekly.

[uniscaper]

So with the uniform services do they use your company logo or how does all that work?

[Matt Kulp]

With our service, they have our logo on one side, and the employees name on the other side on the front of the shirt. That is one aspect of the uniform service that I don't like, in that I can't get a large logo across the back of the shirt. But 9 times out of 10 the company truck is right there, or our guys will just hand our business cards. Also, all of the jackets have the logo on as well.

[martinjohn]

All of our shirts are button downs not t-shirts. The company logo is an embroidered patch as is the name both on the front. I do have t-shirts made with screen printed logo on the back that they are allowed to wear on the really hot days.

[papercutter]

Matt- who are you with that they replace damaged garments at no charge? When I was in the uniform biz several years ago, it seemed like the whole industry was moving towards nailing customers on replacements- at least in my market.

[Matt Kulp]

Right now we are with Cintas, and they have replaced quite a few ripped shirts, severely stained items, and jackets as well. We have not been charged yet, so if they are supposed to, I hope my driver doesn't find out!!!!

[John T]

We hand out collared shirts with an embroidered logo. One thing I've noticed that drives me crazy- we give each guy 6 shirts, they will wear only 3 and keep the other 3 (or give them as presents to their families; who knows!). How I initially found out about this was one of my guys really needed new shirts; his were a mess. He kept asking and asking for new ones. I ordered new shirts but they were taking forever to arrive. Well, one day this guy shows up with a BRAND SPANKING NEW work shirt!!!!! Apparently, he had tucked at least one away in his drawer! After that I started to watch some of the guys and I noticed some of them did seem to be wearing the same few shirts even after receiving new ones. Anyone else have this problem? What I am supposed to do- mark each shirt with a day of the week on them???

[AZTLANLC]

6 decent t shirts should last at least a year if they need more those are $10.00 each