Work uniforms

bb79

Hi can anyone advise me, my current employer is issuing new uniforms, i have to pay €100 for each set. I am currently pregnant and have to buy the maternity version, then on my return to work buy the regular version. There will be no refund on the maternity one. It seems a bit steep to me especially seen as i have a lot of upcoming expenses with the little one on the way. We are very badly paid, most employees are on minimum wage. Thanks.

Bepolite

bb79 wrote: »

Hi can anyone advise me, my current employer is issuing new uniforms, i have to pay €100 for each set. I am currently pregnant and have to buy the maternity version, then on my return to work buy the regular version. There will be no refund on the maternity one. It seems a bit steep to me especially seen as i have a lot of upcoming expenses with the little one on the way. We are very badly paid, most employees are on minimum wage. Thanks.

I would advise you to seek proper advice from FLAC or similar. It's niggling at the back of my head that they can't ask you to buy uniforms at minimum wage, but I could be wrong.

Do you have to buy a particular uniform or do you just have to buy a certain type of clothing, e.g. white blouse, black skirt type effort?

tatli_lokma

What industry are you in OP? Some industries can apply for a flat rate tax allowance against uniforms which will go some way towards the cost.

donkey balls

If the work wear the company provides you with is PPE then they cannot charge you for the uniform under SHAW act 2005,In all my years working I have never heard of an employee having to pay for a uniform.

Stheno

donkey balls wrote: »

If the work wear the company provides you with is PPE then they cannot charge you for the uniform under SHAW act 2005,In all my years working I have never heard of an employee having to pay for a uniform.

Outside of PPE clothing it is allowed for employers to deduct the cost of a uniform from employees wages

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/pay_and_employment/pay_slip.html
See Citizens information

So the employer can deduct from after tax wages or ask employee to pay.

That appears to be reasonable from the above.

Given the OP is pregnant I'd suggest she contact Citizens information, but it's unclear if she should have to pay for a maternity and a non maternity uniform

I suspect that if OP may be entitled to some consideration in this instance given her situation but am not sure.

Bandana boy

donkey balls wrote: »

If the work wear the company provides you with is PPE then they cannot charge you for the uniform under SHAW act 2005,In all my years working I have never heard of an employee having to pay for a uniform.

There are so many companies charging for uniforms now it is probably already the norm rather than the exception .

Bandana boy

I imagine if an employee put on or lost a lot of weight the same would apply.

Could you ask them to delay you switching to the new uniform until you return from Maternity and wear either your existing uniform or nondescript maternity wear in the interim ?

TheBoffin

Depending on your industry you may be entitled to flat rate expense from Revenue - See Here

Also, €100 per set seems steep considering if you work 5 day weeks its likely 3 sets minimum. Your employer should allow for a weekly deduction over 12 months to pay for the uniforms. (This is an employer discretion but if they are decent employers they will agree to it)