Alycia Eck is APPA's Internet Manager and List Administrator for APPAinfo. She can be contacted by e-mailing alycia@appa.org.

If there's one thing I've learned from the APPAinfo list discussions, it's that service matters. And above all else, customer service. A key element of providing outstanding customer service is maintaining the image of professionalism within the campus facilities department. Not only do you want your customers to appreciate the high level of quality work done by your staff, but you want them also to recognize that these same employees are a significant part of a team effort on campus. A facilities team which significantly and positively effects faculty and students alike, from the moment they turn on a faucet for a hot shower in the morning, to the moment they sit in a comfortable and clean lecture hall, to the safe and well-lit walk home to the dorms at the end of the day.

There's an incredible amount of work going on behind the scenes on campuses, and some are now reconsidering the role uniforms play in the custodial and maintenance environments. Uniforms are undoubtably a touchy topic. Which employees get uniforms? What should the department pay for and what should be purchased by the employee? What differences should be considered when providing clothes for women versus men? Some employees prefer not to be restricted in their wardrobes, but safety, comfort, and appearance of workers is a concern for managers. As the saying goes, "image is everything," but perhaps with some collaboration and planning, uniforms can be a positive influence not only within the facilities department but across campus as well.

Do the Clothes Make the Custodian?

Does anyone have any words of wisdom on uniforms for custodians and maintenance? I am trying to decide on purchasing, renting, shirts only or complete uniforms. Also what about summer and winter? Do the uniforms need to be different?