Yesterday, I shared about United Airlines’ decision to loosen dress and appearance standards for front-line employees like flight attendants and gate agents beginning this fall. While many have applauded the move, I do wonder if it reveals another dangerous lurch toward individualism that we should think carefully about before celebrating.
Don’t Uniforms Imply A Uniform Look? An Open Discussion On Airline Uniforms And Individualism
At the outset, let me state that I’m genuinely not bothered by tattoos, piercings, or even nails like this:
And if allowing more individualism in the way flight attendants, gate agents and eventually pilots dress leads to kinder, gentler, more personalized, service, then I suppose that’s a far greater good.
But as a former member of the U.S. Air Force who had to abide by strict dress and appearance standards including uniforms, grooming, facial hair, tattoos, and piercings, I must point out one value in wearing uniforms is to look uniform.
Conformity has become such a bad word, but there is tremendous value in shedding your individualism and embracing the collective…that used to be progressive. The great thing about the military and working for an international airline like United is that it does become a great melting pot of people of immensely different backgrounds, united in a common goal. In the case of airlines, that is to provide safe, efficient, and caring service to passengers and clients around the world.
What should unite United Airlines is a core vision of excellence that emphasizes consistent, professional, kind service. One way that is achieved is by wearing uniforms and maintaining grooming in a way that takes the eye off the person and instead places it on the airline and the service being provided.
Of course is it more than that. What empowers gate agents or flight attendants to provide good service is not how many body piercings or visible tattoos they have, but the tools they have to work with to provide great service.
While not mutually exclusive, I would hope United (and other airlines) would make it a point to empower their employees to fix problems and in the case of flight attendants, give them the resources to provide great service onboard. So much of morale is based upon the toolkit given from which great service can more naturally be provided.
From my perspective, the idea that current dress and appearance standards promote a white, male, heteronormative worldview are not supported by the world in which we live. The USA is a uniquely individualist society, but look around the world. Look around Latin America, Europe, and Asia. The way airline employees dress…the way people dress up in general. Is that all the result of European imperialism or is the more likely answer that human notions of professionalism are actually fairly standard and the USA is now an outlier?
I tend to view the “parade of horribles” as a logical fallacy, but there are practical issues as well. Where is the line drawn on tattoos and piercings? Are those huge rings allowed? If not, why not? What about religious or politically-oriented tattoos?
All of that can (and will) be figured out, but I see the loosening of dress and appearance standards like a bandaid that fails to address the root problem: strong leadership and the tools that empower workers to work the best they can.
U.S. airline employees, especially flight attendants, tend to be very dismissive of Gulf carriers. “Oh, they fire you at age 35,” or “you just become a sex object.”
I would again push back on such a characterization. True beauty is what comes out of the heart, but one reason these Middle East and Asian flight attendants are celebrated for their beauty is not because they are younger or more attractive, but because of their carefully choreographed dress and appearance. And though everyone is inherently a unique person, they don’t look different: they look the same. They look professional. They look beautiful…and it has nothing to do with the number of wrinkles on their face.
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CONCLUSION
Ultimately, I’m not going to lose sleep over seeing how many tattoos or earrings a flight attendant or gate agent has. All I’m looking for is kind, caring service. But I’m not sure the way to achieve that goal is to promote individualism. Instead, I think there is substantial merit in promoting a collective look versus a personal one.
What do you think? Should individualism be embraced in airline uniforms? What is the end goal?
Of course uniforms must be retained: for easy identification and for maintaining a corporate image. I’m a great believer in uniforms, and saddened by the fact that so many schools have now abandoned them ( one result of which is enormous pressure on parents to provide the ‘right’ clothes, usually meaning expensive, trendy, designer crap, because it’s ‘in’.
Airlines can’t accede to every whim and fancy of flight attendants, or we’d have all manner of eccentricities.
This new policy is very sad. I enjoy the uniformity we have as a crew…. I look at Internationals flight crews and my jaw drops when I see how good they look together. what a shame we lack such professionalism here in the US and its going to get worse.
News flash….it’s 2021. I feel like you guys watch the movie 9 to 5 and say “that’s how an office should be run and man that guy knew how to be a boss”.
As long as the employees are good at their job and wear approved attire I don’t really care what piercings or tattoos they have….and this is coming from someone who HATES both.
I don’t think that’s a relevant response to this article.
Even in offices today there are generally dress codes. It’s a professional place of business and people working there need to wear attire that reflects that atmosphere and indicates they are taking their job seriously.
An airline crew is even more of an extension of this, because they’re promoting a look and brand. Any uniform standards can ultimately become too constricting and controlling to the point that they become impractical or demoralizing.
But at the same time, there has to be a baseline of *uniformity*, that’s the point of a *uniform*. If individual expression takes so much precedence, why have a uniform at all? Why not let people wear jeans and t-shirts and have passengers guess who works for the airline? Even a highly mix-and-match approach will lead to impressions of disorganization on the part of the brand.
FFS – it’s not like UA is telling FAs to wear T-shirts and jeans for their on-board service.
Workplaces get more casual decade after decade – the FAANGs are just about the most valuable companies out there, and somehow they survive (nay, even thrive) without dictating employees wear a sharp business casual outfit or the like.
Your comments are valid, except you totally left out the “customer facing” part.
I understand workplaces have gotten more casual, but I don’t that that means it’s therefore inherently better.
It’s also true that there is a customer-facing aspect to this. I once worked at a tech company with “no dress code”, but when meeting with customers or clients, we had a certain standard of dress.
The whole point is that you wear something that indicates you are taking this role seriously and you place a certain amount of importance upon it. That’s all “dressing up” does anyway, it outwardly reflects how much value we place on the given interaction, event, or space.
If you don’t want to do that when working in an entirely internally-facing capacity, okay agree to disagree there; but when it comes to customer-facing work, I think it’s important to showcase that the employees care.
Add to that the branding aspect, and a uniform becomes a perfectly reasonable standard to expect. There can be some variation here and there, but all within certain parameters.
“News flash….it’s 2021. I feel like you guys watch the movie 9 to 5 and say “that’s how an office should be run and man that guy knew how to be a boss”.”
I’m chuckling about this because I yearn for the way offices were run during the 70’s. Yes, you had to wear a suit and tie but Matt’s point is relevant that this professionalism wasn’t just from the worker but also the manager as well. Back then, layoffs were far less common and after workers were allowed to come to work more casual, they started shoving the desks closer together and then even just shoving everyone onto a single table. Long careers were the norm. There were office Christmas parties (Christmas, how unPC!) that were fantastic and built relationships. The tech offices I’ve been in make the chauvinistic pig of 9-to-5 seem respectful by comparison but they are “woke” so it’s ok to treat employees like dirt. If you dress like some kid on spring break, the boss treats you like one.
Silicon Valley has ALL of the things the liberated gals did in their remade office: Customized desks, shift splitting, daycare on site. As one woman put it, her job gave her everything she could want but nothing she needed: Long hours 60+ to contribute to the “team” but the team tosses you out the second they’re done with you. You can have wear your piercings and have a custom photo, but keep it small because your desk will be 1/4 the size it was than back in the 70’s. Enjoy everyone eating at their desks and day old takeout smells everywhere.
What successful team doesn’t wear a uniform?
Any C-Suite out there for starters
And somehow Whole Foods & Trader Joes seem to do pretty good business despite the store workers not wearing a uniform
Funny, isn’t it the Pope himself who has said “who am I to judge?”
Don’t Trader Joe’s employees wear company-issued Hawaiian shirts or tshirts? Americans have largely become a bunch of slobs. We have Boomers to thank for that. Private employers should be able to dictate whatever appearance standards they like. I think requiring employees to meet certain weight standards would bring more improvements than just dress and grooming standards.
Sure sounds like someone was endlessly fat-shamed as a kid…explains everything and then some
As usual, US-TDS’s statement has no basis in reality. I wonder what caused his insensate imbecility. A lobotomy?
This is a poor decision by the airline and I hope that other airlines don’t follow suit. Some jobs require uniforms and appearance standards and airline work falls into this category. For anyone who doesn’t find the concept of a uniform ans a uniform appearance appealing, I suggest he go elsewhere.
United isn’t taking away uniforms, they’re just allowing their employees to have a bit more freedom to express themselves. I know I’ve been accused around here of being an insular rube, but assuming someone can’t do a job professionally because of tattoos/piercings/makeup that you personally don’t care for is just wrong.
Vietjet keeps it casual in their dress. I was recently checked in to the Hilton in Rio by a guy wearing an untucked polo. I’ve had male hotel agents wearing makeup check me in to a Marriott in Bangkok. These things don’t matter. The person’s behavior is what matters. We’ll one day laugh that these trivial issues were ever even worth discussing.
The problem with society today is that people don’t express themselves through traditional mediums anymore such as prose, verse, or the visual arts.
We now all have our own passive aggressive forms of expressions such as pins, tattoos, patches, and unnaturally dyed hair because everyone is so anti-social from cancerous social media.
Being able to express yourself at work is not mutually exclusive with have a professional dress code. To bad the blue check mark twitter mob is too stupid to realize this.
This is just more woke BS that companies feel the need to constantly virtue signal their “inclusiveness.” It’s non-stop now.
U.S. flight attendants are, for a combination of reasons, the frumpiest in the world by far. Complete lack of pride in their occupation that shows (despite the absurd salaries of the senior ones), poor choices of uniforms by most (JetBlue seems to be the most forward) with horrid cuts and cheap fabrics, and the general race to the bottom with appearance that has become an American standard. I mean, the shoes they often wear, those cloggy things, my god, really? Walk through any airport in the world and the U.S. flight crews are an embarrassment to our country.
It’s not that difficult. Proper silhouettes that compliment. Blended fabrics that are rich looking but travel friendly. Small touches of accessories that enrich an outfit including neck scarves for women and pocket squares for men. Ban those hideous “Clog” shoes but find simple flats or optional only heels for women, and comfortable derby shoes for men. In the winter you could also include turtlenecks for both as an optional add on.
Not to just pick on U.S. flight attendants, a second goes to BA for those horrid uniforms. They often look like a head mistress at a boarding school. But they do have nicely done hats at least.
100% agree and I’ve been shouting that for years – especially the sheer number of different variations of terrible, ill-fitting uniforms you’ll see on one flight on a single US3 carrier. It’s, well, pathetic. From baggy or overly tight “dress pants” to poorly fitting/overly tight skirts to FAs barely able to button their shirts so some just cover it with one of the various sweaters/jackets they’re allowed to wear whenever they want. It’s embarrassing for them. I don’t think I’ve been on a single flight in the last several years on a US3 carrier where all the FAs were dressed…uniformly. But I presume it has a lot to do with the airlines’ decision/legal inability to have and enforce actual safety-related age, height, and weight standards. While they’re there “primarily for [our] safety”, a 5’5”, 170-lb 64-year-old doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence. This results in an aging, corpulent, indifferent cabin crew – especially on the most sought after international routes where the US3 are most directly competing with far superior airlines.
Don’t like the dress code? F””‘k off. Cry babies!
“Is that all the result of European imperialism or is the more likely answer that human notions of professionalism are actually fairly standard and the USA is now an outlier?”
My two cents is that it is the imperialism.
Imperialism and white supremacy, no doubt, just like the following:
-self-reliance
-the nuclear family
-rational thought
-hard work
-planning for the future
-punctuality
Who needs any of that? Racist!
https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/JF-US-AFRICAN-AMERICAN-COMP-02.jpg
One of the articles by Matthew with which I 100% concur.
I agree. I’d rather the focus be on customer service, problem solving skills, empathy and friendlyness. Give the customer interactive employees some autonomy and not create realistic procedures and goals that put the customer as the impediment to achieving goals. United is opening a can of worms in a desire to gain favor with the “woke”.
Correction…make that unrealistic goals…
“True beauty is what comes out of the heart, but one reason these Middle East and Asian flight attendants are celebrated for their beauty is not because they are younger or more attractive, but because of their carefully choreographed dress and appearance. And though everyone is inherently a unique person, they don’t look different: they look the same. They look professional. They look beautiful…”
These airlines are also not know for hiring diverse flight attendants. In order to “look the same”, they discriminate to ensure their flight attendants are tall, fair skinned, and not part of a minority group. I guess that is something Matt appreciates.
You must fly on a different Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar than I do…
Emirates Airlines flight attendants…inarguably the best
….but don’t take my word for it google Emirates Airlines flight attendants-LA Dodgers…
United is being divisive. They’ll have the 20-30-something employees “expressing” themselves with nail
polish and lipstick on a man, over-the-top (literally) hairdos on men and women, bangles and jewelry that probably won’t look professional, tattoos (some of which are political messages or obscene images) and then you’ll have the over-50 group who will still be conservative – all working in the same spaces (ticket counters, gates, airplanes) but looking like two entirely different set of employees. No continuity, just confusion. And I don’t care how tattoos and wild/ odd hair styles or lipstick on a man some still say makes them “able to do their job and is irrelevant”, — it’s a total distraction, mentally confusing and actually stressful to my eyes. No customers on earth need to be aware, constantly have discussions or conversations about this – for who ??? – the percentage of people who need constant affirmation that they are “okay” and need a safe place 24/7 ? What next United… you’re running out of safe places.
A few years ago while walking through an international airport, towards me were walking a China Airlines crew of about 16 completely dressed and pressed. Head turning actually. I’m sure anyone looking at them couldn’t help but notice how professional, uniform, and classy they looked. Contrast that with airlines of the United States – the laughing stock of the industry and now this – tattoos, bangles, wild hairdos, nail polish and lipstick on men. Add the attitude, showy “pride” and drama = CLASSLESS.
Uniforms for airlines is a must. It is an industry that projects professionalism and trust. in a emergency I want to know who I can look to for guidance, Direction, and safety. if uniforms are relaxed there will be crew members who will try to push the envelope. the last thing I want to see in an emergency is someone who looks like a grocery clerk, a automotive mechanic, or some other job. flying at 35,000 feet losing pressurization and the airplane having to comply with emergency descent yeah protocols, or sliding down a runway on fire, or 101 other things that may and can happen I want crew members who look and act professional to ensure my safety. A uniform demonstrates this quality like nothing else can. it’s unfortunate we are even having this conversation. to me, it’s just another example of what is happening in corporate America that degrades individuality and professionalism.
I worked in a headquarters office for thirty years. For the first 15 years, we had to wear suits to work, and “Casual Friday” meant you could take your suit jacket off while sitting at your desk. All to do eight hours of computer work a day, and with no customer contact. At the end, neat collared or polo shirts, and khaki pants with decent shoes, were fine. My work output did not suffer due to that change.
I always thought high heels for flight attendants was stupid and unsafe, given the work environment, and what could happen if things went sideways. On an airplane I always wear sturdy shoes that lace up and have good soles. They never come off. Never know when you might have to evacuate through a broken fuselage.
Can just imagine what w will see on the face masks!!! and too many piercing are gross ditto to covered limb tats!!
Would United allow FA/GA to go topless? dress in drag? wear a burqa? work in a Nazi uniform? use Cosplay costumes?
I fear that United’s management will realise the error of thier ways in a few years and be faced with a massive headache in trying to remedy this short-sighted and ineffective solution.
After COVID, my office started calling people back. The collapse in basic common-sense dress is astounding: flip-flops, torn jeans, tee shirts … in a Federal office building! I don’t consider myself a prude or “old foggy” but some de minimis standards should be expected of an office environment. Insofar as the airlines go, a sharp, well-designed and fitting uniform should be part of the experience; not sexy, not provocative, not over the top (Virgin Atlantic jumps to mine in the overt promotion of the FAs sexuality). That all said, a smile, a “welcome” and a “see you soon” aren’t diminished by a tat or a earrings or two.