Job Discussion Forums

the peanut gallery · Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 264

Playa's uniform sounds kinda nice. I dont think there is anything wrong with white polos. Dont we all wear "uniforms" of some sort of another?

Companies in the industrials zones often have uniforms for their employees as well. Places lilke VW, Valeo, GM, etc. provide khaki pants and shirts with company logos. It may seem strange but they are usually worn around town with pride. They show that you are employed by what is perceived to be a top company. In short, the wearer has "made it" professionally.

Phil,

"...For my two cents, I like the idea of uniforms for a professional look on three conditions:

The school gives at least 5 shirts/polo shirts, and 3 pairs of trousers - We only load the washing machine once a week!

A new set is given every six months - I've seen many places where the continually worn and washed clothes DON'T look professional after a while.

The teachers are consulted about the choice of style of the uniform."

I agree with all your points, but the 3rd one is not likely to be standard policy for most companies.

Enchilada Potosina · Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Posts: 344 Location: Mexico

the peanut gallery · Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 264

LOL, maybe the belt mobile phone rack is a product idea waiting to happen!

Not just in SLP mate. Most companies do it.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 5:57 pm Post subject:

I have noticed in Mexico that uniforms seem to be required for jobs at places like banks, which is not very common in the States. Maybe that's where HH got the idea from. Do men and women wear the same uniforms at HH? I once worked briefly at a chain pharmacy in the States and was given a company polo shirt to wear. It didn't fit very well because there was just one style for both men and women, and the cut was based on a man's physique. Maybe that's where my distaste for work uniforms stems from, along with never having worked at a language institute or university where a uniform was required. But if a job at a place like HH fits your professional needs and the polo shirt and pants fit too, then go for it Smile

.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

As The Peanut Gallery pointed out, there are many more companies than just banks (or Harmon Hall) providing uniforms here in Mexico. There is a teacher living across the street from us who wears a navy blue uniform with a white blouse. Her husband works for Grupo Modelo (big beer company), and also sports a stylish uniform. He gets to use a company truck during the day, so I assume he is a sales rep.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 6:23 pm Post subject:

To take this discussion in a slightly different direction, I wonder why uniforms for all sorts of jobs, even for professional ones like teaching, are often required in Mexico. No doubt part of my dislike of the idea stems from a cultural difference since, where I'm from teachers, do not wear uniforms. Any ideas about why uniforms are so popular here?

MotherF · Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 6:43 pm Post subject:

It's not just Mexico but all over Latin America. And my experience in other Latin American countries was all in the 90s. But back then I noticed employees in all kinds of offices in "uniform" Back then it was more formal, most often matching suits in the same color with matching ties for the men and neck scarfs for the women. Banks, travel agencies, the university admin staff (but not teachers) primary school teachers. And off course all the service industry workers and the school children. In Chile, Ecuador and Peru in the 90s it seemed like everyone was wearing a uniform.

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

PlayadelSoul · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 346 Location: Playa del Carmen

I don't really care if I have to wear a uniform or not, as long as I get paid. I have a family to feed and house.

If I could run my own world, I would make lots of changes. Seeing as I don't, a few rules here and there don't really degrade my individuality. It does make it easy to get dressed in the AM, saving precious sleeping minutes.

On the weekends, I can wear my "stick it to the man" t-shirts and ragged jeans while I protest the plight of the working poor, ESL teacher on the internet and take jabs at those who have caved to the evil, capitalist, corporate English institutes. It makes me feel better to claim superiority over someone else, even if I base it on something as trivial as uniforms. Wink

the peanut gallery · Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 264

Why such hostility Playa? Many posters agree with your stance on uniforms.

PlayadelSoul · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 346 Location: Playa del Carmen

the peanut gallery · Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 264

I always liked the impression HH gave with the staff all in tidy polos. Thought it made them look better than the competition without uniforms.

notamiss · Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:45 am Post subject:

Uniforms are just more a part of the culture than they are in our home cultures, at least those of us from North America. Here, they are conditioned to uniforms from kindergarten on up, as even public school students wear them.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:57 am Post subject:

Good point, notamiss. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I wonder where this practice of wearing uniforms come from, what its cultural basis is. Maybe if I were Catholic and had attended Catholic schools while growing up in the US, I wouldn't find them so unappealing.

TeresaLopez · Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Posts: 601 Location: Mexico City