Everyone loves new clothes. What if you adorned your team with a fresh cotton company T-shirt, especially if it means they can dress more casually at work? What is the message you
want everyone to remember during a season of tight deadlines, long hours, tough work challenges, the dreaded annual audit, or grueling inventory? Put it on a T-shirt! According to a study by Stormline, 61 percent of employees are more productive when the dress code is relaxed. Reinforce your current “cheer” (that project mantra such as “Attitude is everything!” “Think. Rethink. Action!” or football’s “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose!”) while increasing productivity as the clock ticks toward the end of the game. Everyone loves fan gear and being dressed comfortably at work, and your staff will too.
Did you know that branded company apparel can boost employee morale, foster a positive company culture, encourage teamwork and collaboration, and even help save money in the long run?
The negative impact of disengaged employees is undeniable. One report found that nearly 70 percent of employees were not actively engaged in their work; this cost employers approximately $500 billion in lost work, money, and time every year! While this number is (and should be) alarming, the implications are far more than strictly financial. Disengaged employees are less connected to the overall mission of the organization. They impact productivity by putting in less discretionary effort and their lack of engagement can impact others they work with. It can even affect customers’ satisfaction levels.
One way to instill a greater sense of belonging and boost team spirit is by unifying everyone with some form of apparel with the business logo or motto. This will serve as a reminder of the company’s values and mission and inspire team members to continue working together to achieve common goals. As an added bonus, “having a uniform that matches your quality of work can lead to consumer confidence.”
This week, I challenge you to research some potential team “uniform” options. It could be something simple like a t-shirt, polo, or pullover or something a little more fun like a cooling towel, scarf, bandana, or even some funky mid-calf socks! To keep things fresh and interesting, you could have a contest to come up with a new motto to put on the apparel. Compile suggestions from whoever wants to participate, put it to a company-wide vote, and the most popular option wins! Check out the Book Resources section of this website for places where you can order apparel.
FUN FACT: Historical research shows that the first work uniforms date back to at least the middle ages. During this era, some workers would wear badges to indicate their job role and who they worked for. Messengers, for example, would wear a badge with the insignia of the nobility or royalty they served. This would help them prove their legitimacy, and easily indicate to the recipient where the letter had come from, a bit like a return address.