The importance of choosing comfortable and appropriate workwear in hospitality

The hospitality sector boasts a vast range of different roles, with each demanding its own different set of skills and responsibilities. From front-of-house waiting staff and receptionists, to pot washers and chefs, employees each face their own unique challenges and are often tasked with working in tough, fast-paced settings. 

Those with food-based responsibilities must adapt to the often hot and uncomfortable conditions of a kitchen environment, whilst front-of-house staff and waiters may find that standing and carrying heavy plates during long shifts can have a detrimental impact on their feet or back.

Taking this into account, it is vital that when purchasing uniforms and workwear for employees, businesses consider the following things, so that staff remain comfortable, safe, and able to carry out their responsibilities to the very best standards that employers and customers alike will expect.

Think about job requirements

First and foremost, when considering uniforms for your staff in hospitality, it is important to consider each and every person’s role individually, as well as the specific criteria that need to be met, in order for them to carry out tasks while remaining safe and comfortable during shifts. 

For example, a chef’s responsibilities differ considerably from the front-of-house staff. Chefs work in environments that can reach extremely high temperatures, especially during the summer months, meaning that work attire needs to be created from breathable and durable materials that won’t overheat and cause excessive sweating during busy hours of service. 

Similarly, a waiter would need to be provided with a uniform that is as comfortable and easy to move around the dining area in, as their work requires them to be on their feet and move quickly to attend to their designated tables and patrons’ needs. 

Ensure employee safety

Also at the top of the list when considering workwear in the catering industry, should be ensuring that employees remain as safe as possible at all times. 

Again, this means considering the environment that they are going to be working in and what equipment they would need to be provided with, so they don’t come to harm. Whether that’s slip-resistant shoes and aprons, or providing heat or fire-resistant gloves to those working with hot equipment, blow torches, or even birthday cake candles. 

Whatever it is they need, providing workers with PPE and a uniform that ensures their safety can help to prevent any accidents while on the job. 

Consider personal comfort

While it is important to make employee safety a top priority when it comes to hospitality uniforms, it is also important that employers think about personal comfort, too. Ill-fitting clothing or shoes may impact an employee’s ability to do their job properly and even impact their health.

For example, for workers such as receptionists, items like shoes need to be considered – is it really sensible for someone who is standing behind a desk all day to wear heels? Heels can be extremely bad for your feet, especially if worn for longer periods of time during shift work. This can lead to all kinds of health problems, including blisters, bunions, and bad backs in the long term. 

Don’t forget professionalism

As well as choosing a uniform that is comfortable and safe for workers, you also need to consider whether it is appropriate for the type of employee. For example, chefs’ uniforms should be white, to demonstrate cleanliness and hygiene to customers. 

Front-of-house staff, like receptionists and hosts, should be wearing uniforms that make them easily identifiable to the public. These uniforms could include shirts, name badges, or clothing with logos to not only signify who they are but also to demonstrate professionalism. 

Hospitality is undoubtedly a busy and tough environment to work in, so really considering the uniform staff wear will be key to securing the success of hospitality businesses for a number of reasons.

One being that when a uniform is comfortable for staff, it generally improves the overall happiness of employees at work and their ability to get the job done, as well as loyalty to the businesses.  

This means that as well as physical comfort and practicality, businesses also need to consider introducing unisex options, so that employees within the hospitality industry feel that they can be who they are while still representing the business. We’re beginning to see more need for initiatives like this as well, with demand for unisex workwear continuing to grow across the sector.

Staff in professional workwear items will also reflect back to guests and customers the high quality of service an establishment offers, as well as how importantly they factor in hygiene and cleanliness in a post-covid climate. This will, ultimately, impact the overall opinion of the general public and whether they’d be likely to visit again, or recommend it to their friends and family members.