Why Uniforms Are a Good Idea

Uniforms enhance discipline.

Professor Anat Rafaeli researches organizational symbols. In her research, uniforms are defined as organizational symbols. Symbols represent ideas, and uniforms are used to communicate the ideas an organization feels are important. Uniforms are defined as a "standard set of clothing." Types of organization include hospitals, businesses, schools, social groups and the military. People that wear uniforms include medical personnel, hotel staff, police officers, maintenance personnel and students. Organizations use uniforms to communicate, to resolve serious issues and for identification.

Identity

Uniforms create identity.

Organizations use uniforms to create identity. Workers wearing uniforms are walking advertisements and can, by their behavior and appearance, create positive impressions about the organization. Some uniforms sport the company logo or slogan. The brown uniform of delivery personnel, or the blue uniform of postal employees, is instantly recognizable.

Compliance

Organizations use uniforms to compel compliance with policy, dress standards and work standards. Management, upon seeing a uniform, understands immediately where a worker should be and what she should be doing. Uniforms can be used to restrict access to certain areas and can be used to identify an employee who wears a name tag.

Safety

Uniforms ensure safety.

Uniforms provide instant recognition of workers, employees, service personnel, students and others. Homeowners know the delivery man will wear a brown uniform, and employees in a large building know the maintenance staff wears blue uniforms with name tags, People are identified by their uniforms -- nurses, law enforcement, restaurant workers. Uniforms also let people know that the wearer's responsibilities are limited. A person can safely approach a law enforcement officer for help if he is wearing a uniform. In a hospital, a stranger who enters a patient's room does not cause alarm if she is wearing nursing scrubs.

Pride

Uniforms tell others you belong to a group.

Organization members who wear uniforms can develop a sense of pride in being identified as a member of the group. The uniform creates a sense of belonging and identity. Wearing the uniform can be a personal statement of support, connection and acceptance of the organization's ideas and values.

School Uniforms

School uniforms create school pride.

Some educators believe that school uniforms keep students safer, decrease distractions in classrooms, create school pride and build a sense of community. Schools use uniforms to reduce gang activity by prohibiting the wearing of other clothing or colors. Schools also use uniforms to diminish the effect of socioeconomic differences. Uniforms can help decrease theft since students have fewer personal items at school. Students who leave school property without permission are identified by their uniforms as students of a particular school. School employees know which students belong in the building. If employees also wear uniforms, unauthorized adults are easily recognized.

Warnings

Uniforms can stifle expression.

Not everyone thinks uniforms are a good idea. School uniforms are the subject of lawsuits. Opponents believe that school uniforms violate First Amendment rights to freedom of expression. Some researchers disagree with findings that school uniforms have any positive effect.

References

• Research Brief: Schools Uniforms
• Symbols in Organizational Culture
• Uniforms Protest, USA Today