Your Winter Workwear Responsibilities

Buying winter workwear for your staff solves their need for warmth and dryness, and your responsibility to keep them safe, looking professional and staying productive as the weather cools.

Australian winters can serve up a mixed bag of conditions from frosty mornings to dry days, and windy weather to weeks of rain. As the temperatures drop your employees need the right workwear to protect them from the elements, stay professional and maintain their productivity. Winter workwear offers solutions to each of these and lets you meet your Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) responsibilities and stay profitable at this time of year.

Professionalism

Your staff are the face of your organisation and how they’re dressed reflects the professionalism of your company. When they get cold or need to cover up against the weather, you don’t want them reaching for any old jacket or jumper and possibly covering up your logo or branding. They will no longer be readily identifiable as working for your business, or worse, they will be identifiable but create a poor impression. Providing your employees with coordinated cold or wet weather solutions will ensure that they meet your dress code standards. When you buy workwear on their behalf you get to control the colour, the style and the fabric so that they can properly represent your brand. Whether your staff are working indoors or outdoors this winter they can still look professional.

Protection

If you work in one of the industries that has a legal obligation to provide protective clothing for your workers there are plenty of cold and wet weather options available. Don’t let them cover up their hi-vis clothing or reflective panels with non-compliant sweatshirts or jackets that will put them at risk. Hi-vis and reflective jumpers, hoodies, long-sleeve shirts, fleece safety vests and weather-proof jackets will keep workers warm, dry and protected against wind. You can even keep their bottom half safe and dry with hi-vis wet weather cargo pants. Additionally beanies, gloves and waterproof footwear will keep extremities warm and reduce weather-triggered illnesses and hypothermia. If your staff are required to wear personal protective equipment or clothing for their work it is up to you to provide compliant clothing for all conditions.

Performance

It’s hard to focus when you’re cold or wet, and your staff won’t be able to perform their duties as well if they’re fighting the elements. Even indoor temperature can pose a problem for workers as no air conditioning setting can satisfy everyone all of the time. Research shows that room temperature directly affects our productivity, accuracy and efficiency. Cold employees aren’t just uncomfortable, they’re also distracted because their bodies are focussed on keeping warm, leaving less energy for concentration, insight and inspiration. Investing in purpose-designed winter workwear for your employees will remove any excuses due to being cold or wet, helping them to be more productive.

Profitability

A study of the hospitality industry has proven that we are psychologically wired to associate and accept higher prices at well-presented establishments, making the appearance of your staff in all conditions critical to your profitability. The study showed that customers evaluate your business by employee uniforms and that employees perform better when dressed in more formal uniforms. If you don’t want your standards, public perception or profitability to drop with the temperature you need to provide your staff with suitable winter workwear.

Seasonal workwear means that you can keep your staff happy, comfortable and safe year round, while presenting a professional image for your business.