Wal-Mart's New Mandatory Uniforms

Why Is It So Important?

By Tabitha Rodriguez, published Jan 14, 2007
Published Content: 39  Total Views: 105,892  Favorited By: 5 CPs
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Starting January 1st 2007, Wal-Mart has decided to have all employees dress in uniform. This new uniform is just for a trial period, to see how everyone likes it and to see if it indeed creates a professional atmosphere for Wal-Mart's reputation.

The new mandatory uniforms consist of Khaki pants and a navy blue top. While Wal-Mart provided some navy polo t-shirts to their employees, there weren't enough to go around to everyone. So the employees must provide their own navy blue tees' until Wal-Mart's stock replenishes, or if the stock replenishes.

Wal-Mart states that there are over 20 different shades and types of khaki jeans available for their employees to wear, so Wal-Mart will not be providing the pants to the employees. Rather they will supply the employees with up to a $15.00 refund of the employees purchase of khaki pants with employees receipt of their purchase.

The goal of Wal-Mart's new mandatory uniform trial is to diminish the well known "Blue Wal-Mart Apron" for a more professional looking attire.

While long standing Wal-Mart employees have mixed feelings about the change in dress code.

While the majority decided the new look of Wal-Mart is more professional, but still they aren't to crazy about the change.

New hires of Wal-Mart agree that the new dress code is a very big improvement to the blue apron normally worn by the associates.

The biggest complaint received is that the employees simply do not make enough money to go out and buy all new khaki pants and blue polo's.

The response was simply to shop at Wal-Mart and use the employee discount.

After this complaint, the second complaint came in. Simply that without the aprons, the employees have no pockets and no where to put their things.

To fix this problem, Wal-Mart is going to be giving the employees a choice to wear a khaki 'half apron'. This gives the employees the much coveted pockets they desire, but still has a professional appeal to it, keeping both Wal-Mart and it's employees at a happy medium.

There are many pity complaints on top of the above mentioned, to many to count.

Wal-Mart's New Mandatory Uniforms
Takeaways
  • The professional transformation of Wal-Mart
  • By doing away with the blue apron, is it really helping Wal-Mart's reputation?
  • Wal-Mart will not supply the "Mandatory" Khaki pants required for the new uniform
Did You Know?
People are protesting this attire change because they simply do not have the extra money to buy a whole new wardrobe.
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Comments
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You only received the 15$ credit if you worked for Wal-Mart when the dress code started. You also would have received Free Polo's at that time.

Posted on 01/31/2008 at 10:01:43 PM

 
You only received the 15$ credit if you worked for Wal-Mart when the dress code started. You also would have received Free Polo's at that time.

Posted on 01/31/2008 at 10:01:38 PM

 
You are an ignorant person who is obviously not well versed on Wal-Mart. I wonder if you are complaining about Target because they pay a lot less, charge a lot more, and their associates have to buy their own clothes. As far as taxes go, we all have to pay them and they go to the government not to Wal-Mart. Get a life!!

Posted on 01/30/2008 at 5:01:59 PM

 
I don't have a problem with the new uniforms. But I am so small that it is very hard for me to find Khaki pants that fit. I have better luck finding blue jeans that fit me. I also think a button up Navy blue shirt with the Walmart logo would be great. Wish I can find one to buy.

Posted on 12/25/2007 at 12:12:06 PM

 
I am a new employee for Wal-Mart in South Mississippi. They have yet to give me a hat! WTF is up with that? No one told me about the $15 refund for pants either.

Posted on 12/07/2007 at 6:12:00 PM

 
I AM A WALMART ASSOCIATE, FOR 4 YEARS. I THINK THE DRESS CODE IS GOOD, BUT IT IS NOT SPECIFIC ENOUGH. YOU HAVE EMPLOYEES, WITH ALL DIFFERENT SHADES OF NAVY AND KHAKI. WHICH DOES NOT LOOK GOOD. I STRONGLY THINK IT SHOULD BE MORE SPECIFIC. TO ME IT LOOKS WORST THAN EVERYONE WEARING DIFFERENT COLORS. IT SHOULD BE A CERTAIN STYLE SHIRT AND PANTS, AND DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE THE WAL MART LOGO. THAT WOULD LOOK MORE PROFESSIONAL. THE COMPLAINT I HERE MORE FROM CUSTOMERS IS THEY DO NOT KNOW THE EMPLOYEES. ONLY IF THEY ARE LOOKING AT THEM IN THE FACE AND SEE THIER NAME TAGS. THEN THATS A PROBLEM TOO. HALF OF THE EMPLOYEES NAME TAGS ARE NOT VISIBLE, WHEN YOU FIRST LOOK AT THEM. COME ON WAL MART, YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. YOU ARE THE NUMBER ONE RETAILER. SHOULD YOU NOT BE MORE PROFESSIONAL. SHOULD OUR CUSTOMERS NOT RESPECT US. WELL HOW CAN THEY WHEN WE ALL LOOK SO TACKY, AND UNPROFESSIONAL. THANK YOU, DONNA

Posted on 10/23/2007 at 8:10:00 AM

 
I am new to the walmart family but have shopped at walmart since they came to my state. I think the dress code is a good thing it helps the customer identify employees. I would like to know where I can purchase shits with the walmart logo? I have seen some employees wear them but I cant find the net link on where to purchase them

Posted on 10/21/2007 at 1:10:00 PM

 
I think that a dressy apparel is great for all working communities, but making everyone on the staff wear the same exact attire I think is quite ridiculous, not to mention tiring to the eye. I think that a nice dress pant and a sweater or dress blouse with proper shoes would be well enough fine. After a while all these people who are all for the change and the matching attire are going to get tired of wearing the same darn thing every single day. Where is Walmart's acts of self-expression? Ill tell you where it went right into their pockets. They pay low wages, tax what you do get from them on your check, take out what ever they want to for your insurance, and now they are forcing even more money out of your pockets to give back to them for the clothes that they are forcing you to wear. Whats next they are going to start checking the tags on your underwear to make sure that they came from their store as well, ooh and lets not forget to make sure that they are the same color as everyone

Posted on 09/27/2007 at 2:09:00 PM

 
In my store I cant wear jeans even though I work in claims. I get dirty with my khaki pants. Dont get me wrong, I do like the look of the uniforms. It looks sharp and neat. But if you work in the offices or in claims like I do, we should wear jeans!!

Posted on 09/26/2007 at 7:09:00 PM

 
Wal-mart associates can go union. Though you should know!!!

Posted on 09/25/2007 at 10:09:00 AM

 
Walmart managers are haters!!! They demand you to use the uniforms but yet they do not fallow he rules. It applys to them too!!

Posted on 09/25/2007 at 10:09:00 AM

 
i work as a sales associate at walmart and i think the shirts are fine (our walmart allows any style shirt as long as its navy). i hate wearing khakis, and i am constantly worried about staining the pants. i think we should be allowed to wear jeans, or any pants we want. also, we were not offered a refund on any of the clothes. we had to shell out for them ourselves.

Posted on 09/09/2007 at 2:09:00 PM

 
i like the look, but i hate having no pockets! our walmart doesn't allow the half apron! this is not fair considering we have alot we need to carry in our pockets to perform our job! (knife, paper, pens, lables, etc...) also, we should be allowed to wear hats that are appropiate for some of those associates that need to hide their head, (cancer patients & females who are balding) it is very embarrassing for some of them and a hat helps them to be more comfortable~

Posted on 09/07/2007 at 8:09:00 AM

 
I have no problem with the dress code YET. Of course I have only been there 3 months! It is mandatory and this is what walmart wants us to wear. If you go to another job they also might have a dress code. Try second hand shops, you can find some nice things in them, or ebay! I have noticed most of the stores I go in also have a dress code now.

Posted on 08/20/2007 at 12:08:00 PM

 
i am a cashier, in way i think it nice, but i liked my vest better. ?I think that was uniform enough. I like having pockets. but i want the vest back. it is dumb we have to buy our on clothes, we should alteast wear what pants we want. its all kinda crazy.

Posted on 08/19/2007 at 9:08:00 PM

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