Q: We are having a major to do in our office about attire for the staff. What are your thoughts?
A: For some reason, the hoopla surrounding clothing (for doctor or staff) is a common trigger point. You may be asking this question of the wrong person, since I will usually choose comfort over style and I’m inclined to wear blue jeans and tee shirt just about anywhere and everywhere! But here are some things to consider as you resolve this little detail with your team:
Office tone. Offices that attempt to emulate a medical setting will often put the doctor and staff in surgical scrubs. Not my style, but it seems to work in many practices.
One-upmanship. The soundest advice is probably attempting to dress one notch (not two) nicer than your typical patient does.
Golf shirts. A variety of golf shirts with an embroidered practice logo has solved this problem for some offices, however some female staff members may find the approach too masculine. Others find this too casual and not “professional.” Whatever that means. (Ultimately, this goes back to the “tone” you want to set in your office—are you attempting to emulate a medical doctor’s office or are you making the statement that you’re different?) I like many of the Land’s End solutions.
Uniforms. This can solve the problem while potentially adding a sense of team in the process. Uniforms supplied by the practice can helpful, especially in high volume practices so patients instantly know who the employees are!
Lab coats. I addressed the issue of lab coats in book nine, Connecting the Dots in a chapter entitled Lab Coats and Latex.
But what I rarely hear anyone mention is the cost of having a “professional” wardrobe, especially for staff members. Plus, it can be costly to maintain, especially if dry cleaning is involved. For what many chiropractic assistants are paid, not only can this be a heavy burden, but it becomes a confidence stealer if they feel their clothing doesn’t match the expectations or standards of others in the office.
Discussing this issue, openly and unemotionally, is the key. Sounds like that’s what you’re doing.