In a world where sustainability plays an increasingly important role, more and more attention is being paid to the reuse of materials. The same applies to uniforms and workwear in a broader sense: old textiles are increasingly given a second life. But what about uniforms that are still perfectly suitable to be worn again? That is where cultural differences come into play. In some countries, employees have no issue wearing second-hand items, while in others people are far less enthusiastic. Time for a deep dive into how culture influences whether or not we are willing to wear second-hand uniforms.
Second-hand uniforms as a starting point
I was 15 years old when I got my first job at Hema, a large department store in the Netherlands. I was told in advance that I could wear my own trousers, as long as they were jeans or khaki-coloured.
For upper garments, I had to wear a shirt with the company logo. On my first day, my employer handed me a shirt from a large stack of second-hand workwear. If the size didn’t fit, I could simply pick another one from the pile. Receiving a second-hand item was completely normal. For my husband, who around the same age worked at a local supermarket, it was exactly the same. He received a shirt that had previously been worn by another employee, but since that person had left the company and the shirt was still in good condition, it could be worn by someone else.
It wasn’t until a recent NAUMD podcast (The Uniformer) recording that I realised this is not how things work in the United States. When a new employee is hired, they are given brand-new workwear. The problem is that in companies with high staff turnover, you have to question whether it makes sense to invest in expensive, high-quality garments. When someone leaves, the clothing is often thrown away. After all, people do not want to wear clothing that previously belonged to someone else.
The influence of culture
The fact that this practice is so common in the Netherlands is largely cultural. People tend to be practical, frugal and functionally minded. “Just act normal, that’s crazy enough” is a well-known Dutch saying. If someone really dislikes the clothing, it is usually resolved internally. It is rare for employees to take legal action over dissatisfaction with their workwear.
This is very different in the United States. Compared to the Dutch, people are much more outspoken. Employers face a greater risk of being challenged, sometimes even in court, if workwear does not meet expectations. From that perspective, choosing to issue new uniforms to every new employee makes sense. It reduces the risk of problems.
Company appearance also plays a much bigger role than it does in the Netherlands. Dutch organisations are generally cost-conscious and focused on budgets. As a result, workwear is more often seen as a tool to work in, rather than as part of a broader brand story.
This mindset is not limited to the Netherlands, but can also be found in other countries in North-Western Europe. In Southern European countries such as Spain and France, visual appearance plays a much more important role.
When people are happy to wear second-hand uniforms
There are, however, situations that form an exception to the rule. Some airlines, for example, provide employees with a uniform when they start, but require them to pay out of pocket if they want additional items. When someone leaves the company, the clothing is therefore often passed on to colleagues. At some organisations, there are even designated second-hand uniform bins, where garments can be placed so that someone with the same size can take them.
This shows that while culture plays a significant role, there are also circumstances in which people are willing to be flexible about wearing second-hand uniforms. And perhaps that is where the real challenge lies: anyone who wants to encourage reuse should not only focus on recycling, but also on how to get employees to feel comfortable wearing uniforms that have already been worn by someone else.
