More Than a Dress Code: Uniforms Enter the Hotel Talent Debate
by Xavier Dominicis
To some degree, the connection between uniforms and talent retention has long existed. After all, uniforms have always engendered a sense of belonging, which boosts employee morale. And, of course, there has always been a financial benefit to wearers of uniforms: Cost savings on work attire. Recently, there’s been another dynamic at play, though: The growing popularity of athleisure garments.
To understand this connection, it’s helpful to first examine the explosion of performance fabrics in the 1970s – 1990s. It was fueled by a growing interest in running, aerobics, hiking and ski culture. Running tights, sports bras and training shorts were at ground zero of the performance-fabric boom and gave rise to textiles offering greater functionality than traditional materials.
Inspired by performance fabrics, the growing interest in enhanced breathability, stretch and durability took hold in the athleisure space in the late ’90s through early ’00s when yoga brands like Lululemon reframed activewear as lifestyle wear. Athleisure is less about sweating and more about living, style and comfort. Think gym to errands to sofa.
So, what does all this have to do with uniforms?
Athleisure’s stylish staples garments such as joggers, hoodies, half-zips, casual sneakers and leggings styled as pants gained favor in the hospitality industry where functionality is now a must-have. Comfort? Check. Durability? Check. Breathability and moisture management? Check.
The athleisure trend has effectively reset workers’ expectations. Hotel workers, for example, increasingly expect their workwear to feel just like what they wear off duty.
And with 65% of US hotels said to be suffering from staffing shortages, hotel operators have taken note.
“For some hoteliers, the tight labor market has actually made uniforms part of the talent discussion,” notes uniform industry veteran Alex Arencibia of JA Uniforms. “As a result, comfort and style have become additional recruitment and retention tools. And in today’s labor market, anything that may tip the scale is welcomed.”