New research has confirmed something many would have had an inkling of: wearing a well-made, well-fitting uniform can make employees feel much happier at work—by as much as 22%.
The findings: The numbers come from new research carried out by Coventry University and Murray Uniforms, a designer and manufacturer of bespoke uniforms and workwear.
Louise Moody, Professor of Health Design and Human Factors at Coventry University, led the study, the findings of which were recently published under the title 'Exploring the relationship between uniform and perceived employee happiness and productivity' in the Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management.
The project: Researchers from Coventry University’s Centre for Arts, Memory and Communities explored the relationship between wearing a uniform and perceived employee happiness and productivity.
- The study aimed to explore employee views and perceptions of uniform design and potential links to their happiness and productivity at work. An online survey was developed and completed by 2,560 uniform wearers in the 16-60 age group in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. The data was analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Exploratory factor analysis uncovered latent variables from among the large number of survey items. A two-way factorial ANOVA compared perceptions based on gender and age.
- The researchers found that wearing a well-fitting, well-made uniform positively impacted the happiness and confidence of employees, felt most in the 25-34-year age group, and appeared to be greatest among women.
The purpose: The purpose of the study was to contribute to understanding of employee's relationships with their uniforms and the perceived impact on their experiences at work. The working hypothesis was that an improved understanding of this relationship may provide benefits for both the employee and the organisation. Recognising an ageing workforce and increasing female representation, differences based on gender and age are of interest.
Under 50-year-olds felt most strongly that wearing an appropriate uniform that they liked to wear would help them enjoy their job more.
The value: This research is believed to be the first survey exploring the views of UK-based uniform wearers. Key elements of uniform design have been prioritised from the employee perspective to offer an emerging model to understand employee perceptions of uniform design. These findings inform uniform manufacturers and employers in designing and developing uniform to address the needs of employees.
Murray Uniforms contends that the findings prove its long-held belief that the right uniform can have a significant impact on employee wellbeing and productivity in any job role, and the research will help them to prioritise the key elements of uniform design that are likely to influence these factors. They included employees in operations/warehouse, transport, customer advisors, checkout operators, desk/office-based staff, engineers, shopfloor staff and store managers.
What they said:
We’ve known for a long time about the power of what you wear in terms of the effect on performance on an individual’s role, but being able to put numbers and evidence against that has been so powerful and we’re now in a position to share the insights.
We have developed this essential resource to enable buyers and key stakeholders to develop a uniform programme that meets their business, people and environmental goals. Knowing the potential return on investment on a uniform and understanding what might drive it within your business is the reason we developed this study with Coventry University.
— Mark Bass
Managing Director
Murray Uniforms
If a uniform significantly affects how an employee feels and how they act, logically it will affect at some level their happiness and wellbeing and therefore their productivity. By better understanding this relationship from the perspective of the employee, arguably we should be able to provide benefits for both uniform wearers and companies through garment design.
— Louise Moody
Professor of Health Design and Human Factors
Coventry University
