At a time when every other advert on television is asking you if you had an accident and would you like to make a claim, what role does workwear have to play in employers discharging their responsibility in the workplace? The "where there's blame there's a claim" culture has certainly focused the minds of employers during recent times. Many companies now take workwear and PPE (personal protective equipment), such as hi vis clothing very seriously. They understand the importance of making sure all employees are as safe as possible in the workplace and this includes ensuring they are dressed appropriately for the tasks they are required to perform.
One area that is of utmost concern is the possible transference of infections by uniform. The government, through the department of health have produced a guidance document entitled "Uniforms and Workwear - An evidence base for developing local policy" This policy is aimed mainly at the NHS but could conceivably cover a number of workplaces. In the document it sets out the legal framework which is applicable, this includes the health and safety at work act 1974 and the control of substances hazardous to health regulations 2002. It then proceeds to draw conclusion for employers based around the working group, expert opinion, literature reviews and scientific study.
The conclusion for employers includes, that the public believe there is a risk and that a ten minute wash at 60 degrees is sufficient to remove most micro-organisms. This is one of the reasons that many workwear garments are capable of been washed at higher temperatures of up to 60 degrees. JKL Clothing has for some years stocked many workwear garments that can be washed at higher temperatures. This includes workwear from Kustom Kit, Portwest, Dickies and RTY to name but a few. Add to this the fact that all JKL Clothings workwear range can be either embroidered or printed and we believe that not only will you be protecting your workforce through providing the correct standard of garment but you will also be able to maintain the smart, professional appearance that all employers are looking for.
Wednesday 17 February 2010
Monday 15 February 2010
Dickies workwear now available from JKL Clothing Limited
Premium workwear brand Dickies is now available from JKL Clothing. As one of the UK's leading Internet workwear suppliers, JKL Clothing are always on the look out for quality workwear brands to add to our ever growing collection. Dickies falls perfectly into a range of workwear brands that provide our customers with both quality and choice.
So why Dickies? and what does the brand have to offer JKL Clothing's customers.
Founded in 1922 Dickies workwear have provided work clothing that is both comfortable and practical to a wide and varied range of industries. It is this depth of experience that means you are sure to purchase a garment that is durable, well constructed and above all fit for the many tasks that you, the wearer, will perform whilst wearing a Dickies garment.
One of the many areas we look at when deciding whether or not to stock a brand is the choice of garments available. In Dickies we believe you will never be short of choice when selecting workwear. With a garment choice from jackets and trousers to knee pads and t-shirts our customers are sure to find a complete workwear uniform.
Another advantage to the Dickies range if the ease with which we are able to embroider the garments. Our customers can have a company logo embroidered onto their garment for that added unique quality that puts them above their competitors.
In short we are sure our customers will appreciate the Dickies workwear garments that we have added to our website.
So why Dickies? and what does the brand have to offer JKL Clothing's customers.
Founded in 1922 Dickies workwear have provided work clothing that is both comfortable and practical to a wide and varied range of industries. It is this depth of experience that means you are sure to purchase a garment that is durable, well constructed and above all fit for the many tasks that you, the wearer, will perform whilst wearing a Dickies garment.
One of the many areas we look at when deciding whether or not to stock a brand is the choice of garments available. In Dickies we believe you will never be short of choice when selecting workwear. With a garment choice from jackets and trousers to knee pads and t-shirts our customers are sure to find a complete workwear uniform.
Another advantage to the Dickies range if the ease with which we are able to embroider the garments. Our customers can have a company logo embroidered onto their garment for that added unique quality that puts them above their competitors.
In short we are sure our customers will appreciate the Dickies workwear garments that we have added to our website.
Sunday 14 February 2010
Working Hours within the UK
Do you work too many hours? Many of us are starting to feel that we are spending more and more time at work and less at home with our families. As the economic downturn continues companies are expecting more and more from their workforce in order to maintain profitability and survive the current recession. This has lead to an increased pressure on employees to to put in the extra effort and time, often for no extra pay, because it will help their employer through this difficult period and thus secure the employees position at a time when redundancies are common place.
Before we decide if we are in fact working above and beyond the statutory working hours, we first of all need to define work. This is the definition as taken from the Direct.gov website;
As well as carrying out your normal duties, your working week also includes;
Job related training
Job related travelling time, for example if you are a sales rep
Working lunches, for example business lunches
Time spent working abroad, if you work for a UK based company
Paid and some unpaid overtime
Time spent "on call"at the workplace
So the above is all classed as work. The following then for clarity is what is not classed as work. Again this is taken from the Direct.gov website;
Your working week does not include;
Breaks when no work is done, such as lunch breaks
Normal travel time to and from work
Time when you are on call away from the workplace
Evening and day release classes, not related to work
Travelling outside of normal working hours
Unpaid overtime that you have volunteered for, for example staying late to finish something off
Paid or unpaid holiday
The definition as directed by law is that you should not have to work more than 48 hours a week on average, unless you choose to, or work in a sector with its own special rules. Your normal working hours should be set out in your contract of employment or written statement of employment particulars.
Why then are we working such long hours when the directive limits the working week to 48hrs. For most of us I would say that it is within our nature to work hard. Many of us have a sense of loyalty to our employer and feel that we do not want to let the team down.
At JKL Clothing, we work a 40 hour week. Our offices are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. During this time we strive to meet all the needs of our customers by ensuring orders are dispatched on time and we communicate information to clients when required. I hope that we can survive and grow by maintaining the current working hours and I certainly have no intention of asking any of JKL Clothing's employees to work over and above the 40 hours for no extra reward. If however our customers tell us we need to be open for longer, then this is something we must look at and try to cater for.
We have in recent months seen an increase in workwear enquiries that fall outside our current opening times. This is due to the types of people who purchase workwear and Hi Vis Clothing also working the core hours of 9 to 5 and then looking at a workwear clothing purchase after this time. We are therefore currently looking at extending our opening times to 6pm and possibly opening on Saturday morning.
This is all for the future. In the meantime we will continue to operate within a 40 hour week so that the staff at JKL Clothing can both work hard and also spend time playing hard with friends and family.
Before we decide if we are in fact working above and beyond the statutory working hours, we first of all need to define work. This is the definition as taken from the Direct.gov website;
As well as carrying out your normal duties, your working week also includes;
Job related training
Job related travelling time, for example if you are a sales rep
Working lunches, for example business lunches
Time spent working abroad, if you work for a UK based company
Paid and some unpaid overtime
Time spent "on call"at the workplace
So the above is all classed as work. The following then for clarity is what is not classed as work. Again this is taken from the Direct.gov website;
Your working week does not include;
Breaks when no work is done, such as lunch breaks
Normal travel time to and from work
Time when you are on call away from the workplace
Evening and day release classes, not related to work
Travelling outside of normal working hours
Unpaid overtime that you have volunteered for, for example staying late to finish something off
Paid or unpaid holiday
The definition as directed by law is that you should not have to work more than 48 hours a week on average, unless you choose to, or work in a sector with its own special rules. Your normal working hours should be set out in your contract of employment or written statement of employment particulars.
Why then are we working such long hours when the directive limits the working week to 48hrs. For most of us I would say that it is within our nature to work hard. Many of us have a sense of loyalty to our employer and feel that we do not want to let the team down.
At JKL Clothing, we work a 40 hour week. Our offices are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. During this time we strive to meet all the needs of our customers by ensuring orders are dispatched on time and we communicate information to clients when required. I hope that we can survive and grow by maintaining the current working hours and I certainly have no intention of asking any of JKL Clothing's employees to work over and above the 40 hours for no extra reward. If however our customers tell us we need to be open for longer, then this is something we must look at and try to cater for.
We have in recent months seen an increase in workwear enquiries that fall outside our current opening times. This is due to the types of people who purchase workwear and Hi Vis Clothing also working the core hours of 9 to 5 and then looking at a workwear clothing purchase after this time. We are therefore currently looking at extending our opening times to 6pm and possibly opening on Saturday morning.
This is all for the future. In the meantime we will continue to operate within a 40 hour week so that the staff at JKL Clothing can both work hard and also spend time playing hard with friends and family.
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