UNIFORMS ARE STANDARD in many healthcare settings, but optical practices often bring together roles that don’t fit a one-style-fits-all approach. At Primary Vision Care in Mount Vernon, OH, the team found a way to keep everyone looking professional while giving staff flexibility — a clothing allowance that doubles as a valued workplace perk.
THE IDEA
Stephanie Plagge
“Our goal is to create a unified and professional appearance across all departments and offices while offering a practical benefit to our team,” says office manager Stephanie Plagge. “Since most of us do not typically wear our work attire outside of the office, providing scrubs to technicians and patient care coordinators and giving an allowance to opticians and management is a thoughtful way to ensure that everyone has something professional to wear without having to dip into their personal budget.”
THE EXECUTION
According to Plagge, the program was designed to reflect the owner’s desire “to make this benefit fair and consistent for everyone.” Each role is covered in a way that makes sense: technicians and patient care coordinators are supplied with scrubs, while opticians and managers receive a $250 annual allowance to select their own workwear within the company dress code.
“Our team is given personal freedom to choose anything that they desire — as long as it is within the company dress code. No receipts or documentation are required. Our goal is simply to help employees look and feel their best when they come to work,” says Plagge.
With more than 35 employees across five offices, budget was an early consideration. Plagge said management would love to offer team members even more to spend but had to be mindful of creating something that was “both meaningful and sustainable.” In the end, she feels they struck a fair balance, “providing a professional perk that supports our team while staying within a reasonable budget.”
Technicians and patient care coordinators are supplied with scrubs, while opticians and managers receive a $250 annual allowance to select their own workwear.
THE REWARDS
The response from staff has been enthusiastic. “This benefit has become a staff favorite,” says Plagge. “Many team members have shared how much they appreciate having access to funds for professional work attire. It is a unique benefit that sets us apart; we haven’t heard of any other practices offering something quite like this and I hope that others follow suit.”
And while the policy has boosted morale across the board, it’s been especially valuable for new hires. “Starting a new job often comes with a lot of expenses so having this benefit can take off some of the pressure,” Plagge says.
Advertisement
Do It Yourself: Offer a Staff Clothing Allowance
- FASHION FREEDOM. Let staff choose their own workwear within your dress code.
- MORALE BOOST. Use it as a morale booster — unique perks go a long way toward employee retention.
- KEEP IT SIMPLE. Skip paperwork or receipts to make the benefit easy and stress-free.
- RESPECT & RETENTION. A thoughtful clothing benefit shows employees they’re valued, boosting job satisfaction and loyalty.
- ONBOARDING EDGE. Help new hires feel supported by easing the cost of starting a new job.
