Clothes Make the Person: Workwear in the Hospitality Industry

How important a positive first impression is becomes particularly clear in the hospitality industry. Here, the outward appearance of service staff alone is often decisive in whether guests stay in a restaurant or not. After all, who would choose a restaurant where the waiters and waitresses look shabby and unkempt at first glance? What must the kitchen look like then?

In addition to this first impression, which ideally conveys hygiene and quality, workwear in the hospitality industry also has other important functions. These include protecting employees, fostering a sense of team spirit, and, as simple as it may sound, making staff quickly recognisable to customers.

There are therefore numerous things to consider when selecting workwear for staff, and deciding on a concept can cause quite a headache. That is why our experts at Shoes For Crews have summarised the most important aspects of workwear in the hospitality industry in this article. 

Workwear in the Hospitality Industry: What Matters?

Clothes make the person – this saying is rarely as true as it is in the hospitality industry. One of the main reasons why businesses often choose concept-based, uniform workwear for their employees is its high recognition value. If female service staff in, for example, a Bavarian inn wear a green dirndl with a blue apron and male service staff wear brown lederhosen with a green shirt, guests immediately know whom to approach with questions. They will also always associate this outfit, these colour combinations and this staff with that restaurant.

This high recognition value can also be linked perfectly with a business's corporate identity. Whether your establishment focuses on classic elegance, trendy modernity or rustic charm, you can use your staff's workwear to embody and emphasise your corporate identity. Colour concepts, style, accessories … everything can be tailored to your own unique vision for your establishment.

An often underestimated function of workwear is its ability to create a sense of team spirit within the team. On the one hand, employees feel much more like part of the business when they wear its colours. On the other hand, it creates room for closer cooperation and a stronger sense of togetherness among the various professional groups – kitchen, service, reception, etc.

In addition to these rather abstract requirements, there are also some practical factors that workwear in the hospitality industry should fulfil. As already mentioned, it should not only create a good impression but also provide suitable occupational protection.

Therefore, workwear, regardless of the area of the business, should have the following characteristics:

•       Tear-resistant
•       Heat-resistant
•       Durable
•       Breathable
•       Comfortable
•       Wrinkle-resistant

Your staff's shoes should be comfortable and must also provide a slip-resistant sole to prevent slip-and-fall accidents. For kitchen staff, you may wish to consider safety shoes with steel toe caps. Our blog post “Comfortable Kitchen Shoes: Sneakers, Slip-ons and Clogs from SFC” provides an excellent overview of comfortable and safe work shoes. 

Workwear in the Kitchen

Kitchen workwear probably differs most clearly from that of other professional groups within an establishment. In a kitchen, safety and hygiene are paramount – including when selecting workwear.

All garments worn by a chef during working hours must comply with the HAACP concept (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point). Anyone who handles food is required to comply with such a concept under EU Regulation (EC) No 852/2004.

In practical terms, this means that kitchen staff must never work in street clothes, and that kitchen workwear must provide a barrier against germs and bacteria as well as being easy to clean.

Typical kitchen staff equipment includes the following:

• Chef's jacket
• Waist apron or apron
• Head covering
• Safe work shoes
• Possibly a neckerchief

In our article on “Occupational Safety in the Kitchen”, you will find interesting background information on occupational protection and how to ensure it.

Workwear in the Service Area

Unlike chef clothing, there are no regulations stipulating what equipment is required for the service area. However, hygiene must not be overlooked here either. Therefore, whichever concept you choose for your establishment, make sure that the selected workwear is easy to clean.

The experts at Shoes For Crews also recommend that workwear is comfortable and functional. As shifts in the hospitality industry can be particularly long and demanding, a comfortable fit is of the utmost importance.

Beyond hygiene, comfort and safety, there are no limits in the service area. Design your staff's workwear entirely according to your taste and corporate identity – your guests will appreciate it too!

By the way, did you know that Shoes For Crews can personalise safety shoes according to your concept? For more information about this service and other offers, please feel free to contact us at any time.

Workwear in the hospitality industry is clearly a topic that deserves your attention! But this article should have answered the first pressing questions.