Can My Employer Make Me Pay for My Uniform?
Generally speaking, employers can require employees to dress in a particular way. This includes wearing a uniform, as long as those requirements aren’t discriminatory or illegal.
Uniform Deductions and Minimum Wage
Federal employment law allows employers to deduct the cost of supplying and maintaining a work uniform from an employee’s paycheck.
However, the employee’s wages after the cost of the uniform cannot fall below the minimum wage. Thus, if you earn only the minimum wage, your employer cannot require you to pay for a uniform.
Uniform Requirements and Discrimination Law
California employers may not prohibit female employees from wearing pants. So, a uniform requirement that requires dresses or skirts for female employees is considered illegal as gender discrimination.
Also, a uniform that is hard for an employee with a disability to wear and take off may have to modified.
David Payab, Esq. from The Law Offices of Payab & Associates can be reached @ (818) 918-5522 or by visiting https://payablaw.com/
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