Is It Legal For Employers To Make Employees Pay For Uniforms?

Millions of Americans have jobs that require them to sport a uniform of some sort. This is especially true in retail, food service, hospitality, and other public-facing industries where uniforms further the brand and aid customers in identifying employees. But should — and can — employers require that workers fork over their own money to cover the costs of these outfits?
In general, the answer is “yes…but.”

It’s a bit confusing because the Dept. of Labor’s own fact sheet on the topic [PDF] first states that “if the wearing of a uniform is required by some other law, the nature of a business, or by an employer, the cost and maintenance of the uniform is considered to be a business expense of the employer.” But what immediately follows are all the rules on when and how much an employer can charge for uniforms.

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