Wearing Hoodies in the Workplace: Should Employers Allow It?

hoodies in the workplace

Once upon a time, formal wear was the default uniform of the workplace - but not anymore! It’s 2024, times are changing, and attitudes to workplace uniforms and dress codes are altering. There’s no doubt that the covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown had a big influence on the acceptance of casual attire at work, as people working from home proved they can work just as well in sweatpants and hoodies as button-ups and slacks.

Of course, this isn’t true for every work place – you’d never expect to see a waiter at a fine dining restaurant wearing joggers, or a teller at the bank chilling out in their favourite pyjamas. This raises the question, are hoodies really suitable for the workplace?

Pros of hoodies in the workplace

One of the reasons hoodies are such a popular garment is because of their comfort. If you work in a job that involves sitting at a desk all day, wearing comfortable clothes can help you feel more relaxed and focused on the task at hand.

Whereas formal workwear such as shirts need to be carefully maintained and ironed to achieve that truly professional and put-together look, when it comes to hoodies, they require much less maintenance. Casual clothing leaves employees with less to do outside of work – it can even make getting dressed in the morning for work easier! Not to mention that formal wear can sometimes cost a pretty penny, whereas casual wear can be a lot more affordable.

Cons of hoodies in the workplace

Perhaps the most obvious con of hoodies in the workplace is that they typically don’t look professional. This could be a particular issue if your job requires you to interact with customers and clients, and maintaining a professional appearance is important.

If a workplace has a formal dress code, hoodies are very difficult to style in any way that would make them suitable. Wearing casual clothes can also make it difficult for employees to be easily identified as being ‘on the job’ by customers – unless, of course, they’re wearing branded hoodies.

Branded hoodies

Perhaps the most effective solution to the issue of hoodies in the workplace is branded hoodies. Branded hoodies are comfortable and have all the benefits of regular hoodies, but also clearly identify members of staff as employees and creates a unified look among team members. 

If you’d like to read more about the benefits of branded hoodies in the workplace, check out this blog: 5 Benefits of Branded Workwear

If you’re interested in using branded hoodies in the workplace, here at My Printed Clothing we offer a wide range of branded hoodie customisation options, including printed and embroidered hoodies.

Shop Custom Branded Hoodies

 

 

Read More: Dress Code at Work: Pros and Cons