More Than Good Looks: Uniforms

When uniforms were first becoming popular for service workers and manufacturers, their function was more about safety than anything else. Today, while the safety aspect is still a concern for many industries, the uniform concept has been adapted to serve other purposes. Terms such as "team wear" have taken the idea of the uniform to a higher level.

There are many ways that contractors in the lawn and landscape industry have found to get their employees in uniform without breaking the bank. And the uniform and garment industries have responded to the demand by offering contractors a number of product, purchase and lease options.

USING A SERVICE. A number of industries trying to portray a professional image have moved toward the use of uniforms, and, consequently, there is no shortage of suppliers of work wear in endless styles and colors.

There are also several companies that offer laundry services that pick up dirty uniforms, clean them, repair them, and return them ready for use by service crews. For many lawn and landscape contractors, this option is appealing because it can reduce some of the variables involved in keeping crews in matching outfits.

G&K Services, Minnetonka, Minn., is one of several full-service uniform providers. They work with contractors to create the design, purchase and embroider the garments, and provide the laundry and uniform maintenance services. Jeff Hartman, marketing communications manager with G&K, noted that contractors can either purchase the uniforms outright or lease the uniforms from his company. Various services can be negotiated as part of the service contract, including replacement of destroyed clothing and damage repair.

Jon Cundiff, president, Turf’s Up Lawn Service, Lee’s Summit, Mo., has been using a uniform cleaning service to keep his crews looking professional and consistent every day.

"We used to purchase uniforms for the crews, but over time they got worn and torn and the applicators just weren’t looking professional," noted Cundiff. "That perception is critical to us."

The service Turf’s Up uses provides 11 sets of uniforms for each crew person. Five clean uniforms are provided at the beginning of each week, and after five working days the service picks up the dirty uniforms, and brings back the other five ready to wear. The service Cundiff uses also will repair damaged uniforms before returning them. The eleventh uniform allows the employee to have one to wear on uniform pick-up day, allowing for schedule flexibility.

Along with ensuring consistency, having a uniform provides the added employee benefit of not having to launder work clothing, Cundiff pointed out.

In terms of cost, he said that employees share about half the cost of the uniform and laundry service. He estimated that it costs $26 per new employee to start up the service, and about $6 per employee per week to maintain the service. Turf’s Up uniforms are pinstriped, and feature the technician’s name, company logo and logo of the Professional Lawn Care Association of America.

To reduce the impact of employees who decide to leave the company soon after starting, Cundiff keeps a few extra sets of uniforms in-house for new hires. "They get their own uniform once they’ve become licensed and can go out on their own," said Cundiff. "It’s a sort of probationary period."

There can be some disadvantages to the system, however. Michael Scian, president, Scian’s Landscaping, West Berlin, N.J., said that after three years of dealing with a uniform company, he’s made the decision to return to purchasing uniforms and having his employees be responsible for their own laundering.

The biggest issue has been employee turnover in the ranks of his 90 field employees. "There’s always lag time between the time you hire an employee and when we can get them a uniform," Scian explained. "In general, it takes two weeks to get the uniform cycle going for a new employee, and we always have one or two new employees coming in. And I really hate to ever have anyone out of uniform."

The other problem has been unaccounted for uniforms, which neither the employee nor the uniform company takes the blame for losing. "There’s so much administration involved in checking the lots to make sure the system is working properly," explained Scian. "I have one person that spends two hours a week on this, and it isn’t something I want to spend a lot of time on."

ON THEIR OWN. Many contractors have opted to purchase uniforms and give employees the responsibility of cleaning them. In these cases, the employee usually pays for part or all of the garments, at least in the first year. For most companies, the "uniform" is actually from the waist up, but contractors in general require a certain type or color of pants, such as khakis or jeans.

Northwest Landscape Industries, Hillsboro, Ore., gives employees a $60 allowance two times each year to purchase clothing, according to Bob Grover, vice president, landscape management. A variety of clothing is available from t-shirts to sweatshirts, golf shirts and jackets, while pants and footwear are the employees’ responsibility. Employees can choose the clothing they wish to purchase. The allowances are broken up to give employees a chance to order light clothes for the summer months and heavier clothes for wintertime.

The Groundskeeper, Tucson, Ariz., supplies crew people with three shirts for free when they start working there, which costs $6 for short sleeve and $7 for long sleeve styles. Thereafter, employees can purchase additional clothing through payroll deduction. "We’ll spread the cost out over a few checks for them so the impact isn’t as great," noted Jay Strauss, human resource assistant. Hats are usually supplied, because they fade so quickly in the hot Arizona sun.

At Ruppert Landscape, Ashton, Md., new employees receive hats and t-shirts, and the company pays for half of the cost of jackets and sweatshirts in the first year, said Kathleen Sheetz, director of employee communications. After that, employees are on their own.

No matter how a uniform program is implemented, contractors who insist on a consistently uniformed work force believe it’s the best way to express professionalism to clients and onlookers, and to instill pride in crew people for the work they do.