A more responsible workwear solution takes into account the needs of both staff and customers

In addition to home care, housing services and enhanced service housing, the Viola Home Association's service block in Tampere also offers restaurant services, rehabilitation and day activities to the elderly. With over a hundred employees and substitutes and operations in many different properties, work clothes must be easily identifiable, good-looking and safe, but also easy to manage and maintain.

Elina Konsala, Human Resources Manager at Viola Home Association, is pleased and proud of the workwear worn by Viola's staff. Designed in collaboration with Medanta, the workwear is unique in terms of both color and design. All clothing is united by Viola's familiar violet logo.

"Good-looking and high-quality work clothes emphasize Viola's active and forward-looking spirit. It is important that everyone feels like they belong to Viola and is able to communicate a professional feel to the outside world through their work attire," says Elina.

Customizable collections, without forgetting safety

According to Elina, the adaptability of workwear was an important part of the workwear procurement process. The staff had the opportunity to try on different shirt and trouser models in order to find options that would suit every body type. The bright and distinctive colours were ultimately selected based on customer and staff feedback.

Now Viola's care worker can put together her work outfit by choosing her own favorites from two different colored shirt and trouser models or put on a denim work dress. With the coronavirus, an important added value in the new workwear has been the antimicrobial nature of the fabric.

“Actually, all of our customers belong to risk groups, so Medanta's antimicrobial fabric makes the workwear safe for both the employee and the customer,” Elina reflects.

Patrik Palm, a care assistant at Viola's enhanced assisted living group home in Pellava, has worked with the elderly for over 30 years. According to him, uniform work clothes are important not only for staff cohesion, but also for customers.

"We've seen many different types of work clothes over the years, but the colors of these new work clothes, a pink and turquoise shirt and navy blue pants, are really cheerful. Our residents have memory problems and many already have impaired vision, so distinctive clothing also helps them recognize who is on staff."

Good pockets and adjustment options for everyday use

Nurse Reija Vanamo and nurse Sirpa Peltonen, who work in the same unit, both say that their favorite piece of clothing is a pink work shirt.

"The design is good, and the pocket sewn on the side keeps the phone firmly in place and doesn't fall forward, even during work tasks that require bending over."

Sirpa thinks the new work pants, which have long elastic at the ankle, work well even for shorter people and the waist stays in place well.

“With the elastic, I can turn the leg to the right length. And in the summer, when it was hot, I noticed that someone had made them into capris for themselves.”

Elegance from breakfast to memorial services

Viola's restaurant staff works in the service block's own restaurant. The restaurant staff provides all meals of the day for both residents and external customers. The restaurant also organizes customer celebrations and memorial events.

Everyone is happy when the old "boring gray" work uniforms are replaced with black chef's coats and trousers, which customers use to distinguish restaurant employees. Previously, restaurant staff wore the same uniform as care staff.

"The new black work uniforms are now so stylish that you can even wear them to serve at memorial services. I also like the half sleeves, as they protect the skin from burn scars better than short sleeves," says chef Sanna Niemenmaa, who was involved in designing the staff's uniforms.

Sanna has also noticed that the antimicrobial fabric of the clothes is easier to wipe clean and does not collect odors, like previous work clothes.

Depending on the task, restaurant staff's work attire is also complemented by an apron or a hat. The first hat model did not suit everyone because it was too tight, but the problem was solved.

"We gave Medanta feedback that the model should be changed. Now we have a model with open laces that works for everyone," says Sanna.

Comprehensive service saves you money

At the same time that the new work clothes were introduced to the Viola home association in December 2021, the washing and maintenance of Viola's work clothes also changed. Medanta's comprehensive service means that the staff has a sufficient amount of clean work clothes at their disposal. Dirty rental textiles are collected once a week from Medanta's laundry, from where they are returned ironed and serviced as needed.

Previously, employees were purchased personal work clothes, which were washed and cared for by their own staff in addition to their other work.

"With the old model, managing work clothes was quite a hassle. Every time new employees came in, there were clothes of the wrong size, all units had to have their own washing machines, and you had to find people from your own staff who were willing to wash and care for the clothes. It took a lot of time and was inefficient," Elina describes.

"I believe that the laundry can be operated in a more responsible and ecological way. In addition, logistics are easy because the Medanta laundry is right here."

Elina has noticed with joy that trust in Medanta has only grown stronger since the work clothes arrived.

"My initial thought was that Medanta is a very high-quality workwear supplier. However, their way of moving things forward, listening to wishes and looking for solutions has surprised me positively. With this operator, things get done."

 

 

 

 

---

Viola Home Association

• Location: Tampella, Tampere
• Special: a communal service district where sensitive listening to customers and understanding their needs is as important as the high quality of service.
• Offers: a variety of services for senior citizens' homes in the area and for residents of Viola's residential service units: home care, restaurant, rehabilitation, housing services and enhanced service housing, day activities, local market activities.
• Employees: Approximately 120 health care professionals and 8 permanent restaurant employees.