She Wore That (?!) to Work
If you’ve ever had the pleasure—and I use that term loosely—of working as a valued Target team member, you’re well aware of the required red polo-khaki pants uniform. During my three months as a sales floor associate, I witnessed the power of such an ensemble. A plain polo shirt and khakis are fairly standard pieces in anyone’s wardrobe, but the Target brand was so deeply intertwined with the red and tan pairing that customers could spot me—a beacon of retail knowledge—a mile away. I wasn’t pleased with my uniform’s familiarity once the thrill of escorting customers to the toothbrush aisle waned, but Target was more than happy my clothing was associated with their brand.
Uniforms aren’t always the cheapest option for a company, or the most popular decision among employees, but as I found out while writing a story for the September issue of units, many companies in the apartment industry are making the move to (stylish) corporate wear conformity.
Before you decide to revamp your dress code policy, consider the following:
Dress Code Disasters – Companies that opt for a dress code should have guidelines that are as air-tight as possible to avoid any ambiguity. There are a lot of creative minds out there that will interpret “professional attire” in their own special way. Clearly state what is and is not appropriate and consider distributing an internal document with pictures of suitable clothing. It may seem a little juvenile, but do you really want to risk the alternative?
Form vs. Function – It’s important that onsite employees look professional, but it’s also important that they don’t pass out from heat stroke. A wool suit is timeless, but it’s just not practical on sweltering summer days. Trust me, the sight of giant sweat rings and a perspiring upper lip is more off-putting than a casual shirt. And if your employees don’t feel good, they won’t be cranking out new leases.
First impressions – Believe it or not, dressing to the nines could actually hurt business. Prospective residents may take one look at a company’s stuffy wardrobe and assume the property is beyond their budget, says multifamily housing consultant Lisa Trosien. On the other hand, wearing shorts may be inappropriate at a high-end property with residents in business suits. As a renter myself, I’d like to see a middle ground: leave the three-piece suits at home, but no halter tops, please.
Dollar signs – Many people associate uniforms with a loss of individuality. Maybe I’m just lazy and cheap, but I wouldn’t mind sacrificing a bit of my sartorial creativity if I had a pre-paid suit already picked out for me each morning. Professional attire is expensive, and besides, how much individuality do you have to begin with when you’re required to wear heels and skirts of a certain length at some companies?
Conversely, apartment companies considering a move to uniforms can’t break the bank in the name of style. Some owners have compromised by embroidering polo shirts with the company logo. The brand exposure is still there, but at a much more affordable price. And instead of ordering from a catalogue, you can purchase the shirts at one of about 8 million Target stores nationwide for less than 10 bucks.
For more on apparel in the apartment industry, check out my article, ‘Apt Apparel’, in the September issue of units, which mails Sept. 8, or in the e-version of the magazine, available on our website Sept. 13.
If your company has an interesting dress code or uniform policy, please share it with me and APTly Spoken!
