Wal-Mart, the nation’s leading brick-and-mortar retailer, has loosened its policy regarding employee dress code. The 1.4 million workers it employes in the United States will soon be able wear denim jeans to work.
Effective July 1, 2015, employees working in U.S.-based Wal-Mart stores will be able to wear either black or khaki denim jeans, which were previously prohibited under the company’s strict dress code. Workers in the garden center and other physical jobs will have an even greater level of freedom regarding their outfit, with a Wal-Mart spokesperson saying that can wear traditional blue jeans and t-shirts. Workers will still be required to wear the standard Wal-Mart vest and name tag.
News of this dress code policy change begs the question: why is Wal-Mart changing its policy after all of these years? The move began as a result of workers complaining about the company’s dress code. Many workers felt it was unnecessary to follow Wal-Mart’s strict dress code, especially in jobs such as the garden center. This prompted the retailer to rethink, and ultimately, revise its dress code to allow workers to wear denim jeans.
As noted by Bloomberg, this is just one of the many changes taking place in Wal-Mart. The company has also announced plans to increase the minimum wage for its employees. Bloomberg reports that roughly half a million Wal-Mart employees have received raises upwards of $9 an hour. This number is expected to grow to $10 an hour by next year. Workers have rallied to push the retailer to increase wages, and it appears these efforts have worked.
“The changes come in response to employee feedback about the current, more restrictive dress code, Lundberg said. It’s one in a series of recent changes taking place in Wal-Mart stores as Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon forges ahead with a turnaround plan for the company,” wrote Bloomberg.
Allowing workers to wear jeans is probably something that Wal-Mart should have done a long time ago. But I guess it’s better late than never. The new change may have little-to-no impact on consumer purchases, but it will certainly make Wal-Mart more appealing to job-seekers. And when it has an easier time finding and hiring workers, consumers will reap the benefits. The new dress code change is a win-win situation for everyone involved.
