Appearance

sage

So here I am feeling guilty for something I know I should not feel guilty about.

I had to send an employee home today because he showed up at the job with badly torn jeans, no knees and a ripped back pocket.

I have a fairly clear policy on appearance. I require that employees wear pants that are not ripped or fraying out of control on the bottoms. I also require them to wear a company shirt/sweatshirt etc. which I supply at no cost. I ask that they wear clean clothes (I dont care if they are stained, I am firmly planted in reality, it's just that at the start of the day I dont want them to look like they just ended the day) each day and so on.

I feel that it's not to much to ask of our employees to represent our company with a proffessional appearance.

Question: What's your take on appearance, uniforms etc...?

By the way we have been doing almost entirely residential remodels lately. I know things are a little/lot different on commercial sites.

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Debookkeeper

Hi Sage - from CT too.

The GC I work for feels the same as you. I recently had to do a letter to that effect regarding the clothing being all torn. That stuff used to be common sense... I dunno. Maybe it is a Connecticut problem

DecksEtc

I agree with your decision to send him home.

Your employees are a direct reflection of your company and YOU.

Just curious, did you give him the opportunity to return to the site after he changed clothes?

greenm&m

This is true. A HO would not like for someone to come into their house looking like they have been drug down the road. Their apperance would give them more respect from the HO. They ARE a reflection of your company. Impressing the HO will give you a foot in the next time they need service.

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theworx

I think you have a good policy. You want to keep up the image of your company (and the appearance of your employees is what the customer sees on the job site). My employer has an account at Mark's Work Warehouse and when I've blown out my knees in my pants or my coat is getting really worn from work, all I have to do is go to the store pick some new work clothes and put it on his account. It's that important to him that we look presentable. Although I do break the rules myself, showing up at a commercial site with ripped or stained pants once in a while (usually isn't an issue because the client realizes I know my stuff and deal with them in a professional manner). But, the image you are trying to keep is important.

C.C.R.

It's question of professionalism: look and act the part. I think customers are more leary of workers that look like they just came from the good will box. "If this worker can't even afford jeans that aren't ripped to shreds he can't be worth that much". Wich in turn makes your company look bad for hireing unskilled workers. Even if they're the best around.
I myself am in the process of buying some new company uniforms: shirts ( I like the polo shirts), hats, and maybe a pullover or two for each worker. Are there any companies that people have had good luck with?
Well all in all Good move in a customers mind dirty looking worker = dirty looking work. well you know what I mean. Rules are Rules

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sage

First off, I'm happy to see that I am not the only one out there that feels this way.

Decks, I did give him the opportunity to return to work and he choose not to. That is another issue that I have to figure out how to deal with.

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dumplin1078

Its funny because I was just discussing this at work today. The lead carpenter for the GC was wearing shirt that had the "Golden Arches" on it and I thought it was a McDonalds shirt, but when I read it it said,"Marijauna 1 Billion Stoned". Funny yes. Appropriate no. This is a remodel job in a very upscale neighborhood and the HO is very well known cosmetic dentist in the area. I know it wouldn't matter if it was double wide in a trailer park but you get my drift. My brother was wearing a Budweiser skull cap today I considered making him take it off.

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donb1959

My guys are required to wear clean white pants and a company shirt which I suppy.

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slickshift

You did the right thing sage
I would have done the same
I agree with the above posters that appearance is a reflection on you and your biz
Your policy is clear
He knows the rule
...and it's a good one too

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DecksEtc

Knowing you, I figured you did give him that opportunity - I just asked for my own curiosity. Unfortunately, for him, it sounds like it may impact his future employment

Stone Mountain

You are right. I have been lax this summer.(way too busy to worry) Most of my fellows are reasonably neat, but one guy in particular always had his shirt wide open and was unshaven. To mitigate the problem, his helper (who is his wife), is very attractive, and knows how to dress. (She's also a terrific carpenter!!!)
Over the winter it's not important, because we won't be doing much, but come spring I will institute a dress code.
I did give everyone embroidered t-shirts, and hats, and most of the guys weare them.

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Tom R

How was he even walkin' with no knees??

Sure hope you gave the poor cripple a ride home . . .

Tom R

Do your other workers have to shave their chests, too??

DecksEtc

Fess up, you're talking about yourself and your wife, aren't you Steve!

BTW, I never received my shirt OR hat!!!

mdshunk

I have a uniform company supplying pants and shirts now. There's no excuses. I am even bothered by a worker that shows up in clothes that are clean, but badly wrinkled (like they've been in the clothes basket all week). The uniform company washes them and brings them back pressed and hung up. Nine bucks per week per man. Can't beat it.

I've even got a line in the employee handbook that says:

"Pants may not be baggy or sag away from the body. Crotch of pants must fit at the natural crotch. Bottom of pants may not extend past the bottom of the shoe or boot. Pants must be worn at the natural waist. Belts are not expressly required, however, if necessary a belt or suspenders will need to be worn to keep pants at the natural waist to assure compliance with this section. Belts should not extend more than 6" from buckle, and suspenders must be of a color that co-ordinates with the uniform colors (blue, black, grey)."

You've pretty much gotta spell it out for some people.

Dave Mac

good job on sending him home, i have a very similar policy, and i can tell you, i do not give them a chance to return to work that day. And if happens again their gone for good. funny thing is, it usally doesnt happen twice, once they realize they just a whole days wages for some dump decision on their part.

Melissa

I think we might to say about about this too- baggy shirts and pants, tattoos, earings, shaved head. It's so akward, because you don't want to hurt their feelings.

dougchips

Our job site dress code is: clean pants or shorts, polo shirt- no mention of alcohol, drugs or any political messages. I will allow tee-shirts when it is really hot during the summer so long as they are clean (not white).

I let one guy go this summer for looking like a bum (basketball shorts that would show 3-5" off ass crack) and dirty shirts. His personal appearance showed in his workmanship. Week one "coffee" stains all over his truck--wash the truck before you go on any more of my jobs, week#2 same coffee stains--learn to stop your truck when you dump out the coffee/did you really wash the truck, week #3 same stains--no more work for you, go out with one of my other installers, learn to "dress to impress" and wash you truck, week #4 do you have any work for me week #5 your fired.

Joshua

In my line of work, my employees rarely (if ever) interact with our customers. However, we have a dress code. Mainly because of issues involving the determination of what is and is not acceptable attire. It's easier to have everyone dress to code than to tell someone his shorts are too short or the print on his t-shirt may be seen as offensive to his/her coworkers.