Women's Workwear is Not "Wokewear"
Logistics UK
(Text and images, copyright Logistics UK, reproduced with kind permission)
(Image 1 Tim Hyde)
Over two-thirds (70%) of women in operational roles have been forced to use ill-fitting workwear, according to industry research*, as a glaring gender gap in PPE is forcing female workers in critical industries to wear clothes that are designed for men. The lack of workwear specifically designed for women does not only run the risk of being unsafe, says business group Logistics UK, but also makes logistics careers less attractive to women at a time when the profession is seeking to attract new and diverse talent.
Although logistics has historically been a male-dominated sector, figures show that the face of the industry is changing. The number of women working as road transport drivers has increased by 322% in the last four years, and those working as directors in logistics, warehousing and transport has grown by 36%**.
Tim Hyde, Head of Retail Operations at Logistics UK said:
"Women fulfil crucial roles in logistics and are a critical part of a sector that ensures the smooth movement of goods around the country. Too often, women's workwear is simply produced in smaller sizes of products originally designed for men which can make it uncomfortable and harder to work in.
"The correct and appropriate clothing is not just a question of comfort and the proper fit, but also safety. If female workers are allocated poor fitting workwear, they may simply choose not to use it, which effectively means they are being denied appropriate equipment to carry out their jobs safely.
"The logistics sector is crying out for new talent, but a lack of appropriate workwear has the potential to discourage women from joining what is a fantastic and dynamic sector."
58% of women have reported they feel uncomfortable in their clothes and 24% said they felt unsafe to work, demonstrating an urgent need to ensure workwear is tailored to women's needs*.
According to Hyde, sourcing functional clothing specifically designed for women can be a struggle, but the Logistics UK's Shop is one of the newest places that stocks workwear specifically for women, with its biggest range provided by supplier Blåkläder.
"Women should not have to compromise or make do with the clothing that does not fit properly," added Hyde. "They deserve to have access to the very best, size-appropriate workwear. In our discussions with Blåkläder, it was clear how passionate they are about quality and using real-world feedback from female workers to refine and improve their garments continuously – we are proud to stock the range and support all those working in the sector."
Logistics UK is one of the UK's biggest business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc.
Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, water and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, please visit logistics.org.uk
