Introduction
Hooters, the iconic restaurant chain known for its scantily clad waitresses, recently unveiled a new uniform design that was met with major backlash from employees. The new uniforms, which featured a more modest design, were intended to modernize the restaurant’s image and appeal to a wider customer base. However, the employees felt that the new uniforms were too conservative and did not reflect the restaurant’s brand. In response to the backlash, Hooters has decided to backpedal on the new uniforms and will continue to use the classic design. This article will discuss the controversy surrounding the new uniforms and why Hooters ultimately decided to backpedal.
Hooters Backpedals On Its New Uniforms After Major Backlash From Employees
Hooters, the iconic restaurant chain known for its scantily-clad waitresses, recently announced a new uniform policy that would have required its female employees to wear a more conservative outfit. However, the company has since backpedaled on the policy after facing major backlash from its employees.
The new uniform policy, which was announced in late April, would have required female employees to wear a black tank top, black shorts, and a black apron. The policy also stated that employees must wear their hair in a “neat and professional” manner. The policy was met with immediate backlash from employees, who argued that the new uniforms were too conservative and did not reflect the brand’s image.
In response to the backlash, Hooters has since reversed its decision and announced that it will be reverting back to its original uniform policy. The company stated that it “listened to the feedback from our employees and have decided to keep our iconic orange shorts and tank tops.”
The decision to backpedal on the new uniform policy is a major victory for Hooters employees, who argued that the new uniforms were too conservative and did not reflect the brand’s image. The company’s decision to keep its iconic orange shorts and tank tops is a sign that it is listening to its employees and taking their feedback into consideration.
After hordes of Hooters employees lodged complaints about the chain’s new, more revealing uniforms, the company is changing the narrative around their implementation. According to Business Insider, Hooters now says that the much shorter bikini-style shorts, which are being rolled out as a wardrobe update for its servers, are optional.
RELATED: Hooters Servers Are Complaining About the Chain’s Inappropriate New Uniforms
The underwear-like shorts were meant to replace the longer shorts at the chain’s locations run by Hooters of America, its biggest operator. But the company, which runs more than 400 locations in dozens of states, has issued a statement amid the backlash stating that employees can choose to stick with the former uniforms if the outfit is a better fit.
“As we continue to listen and update the image of the Hooters Girls, we are clarifying that they have the option to choose from traditional uniforms or the new ones,” a spokesperson wrote in an email to Insider. “They can determine which style of shorts best fits their body style and personal image.”
Some of the most common complaints about the new uniforms have been that they’re too revealing and uncomfortable and that they ride up causing a perpetual “wedgie.”
@sick.abt.it love my job but dont love wearing undies to work ☠️ #hootersgirl @Kirsten ? ♬ Jenna_Did_it – Chy
@maeson_williams Lmao everyone hates them #hooters #IKnowWhatYouDid #TreatiestCupContest #ForYouPizza ♬ sonido original – DIABLO_FFツ
@theflathootersgirlReply to @kat.abrramo so here’s what they look like on! I had to use a tape measure for my sizing and then I still couldn’t get them off after this video ? #uniform #hooters #shorts #hooterstiktok #college #waitress #restaurant #hootersgirledition #OneSliceChallenge♬ A moist healing song – Nez Tunes
Hooters of America has also said that the new shorts were developed in collaboration with employees, and that they generated positive feedback when first rolled out in Texas locations several months ago. However, it remains unclear if the shorts were first presented to the employees as a requirement.
We have reached out to Hooters of America for comment and will update this article with any answers we receive.
For more, check out:
And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to get the latest restaurant news delivered straight to your inbox.