Do we have to reimburse uniform costs?
The HR Management & Compliance Report: How To Comply with California Wage & Hour Law, explains everything you need to know to stay in compliance with the state’s complex and ever-changing rules, laws, and regulations in this area. Coverage on bonuses, meal and rest breaks, overtime, alternative workweeks, final paychecks, and more.
Private employers must pay for a required uniform and the costs of maintenance. The definition of uniform is quite broad, encompassing apparel or accessories that are distinctive in design or color and that are not “generally usable” in an occupation. For example, a hospital wouldn’t have to pay for a nurse’s uniform because the nurse could probably wear the same item wherever he or she worked. However, if a housekeeper is required to wear a nurse-type uniform, the employer would have to pay for it because the housekeeper wouldn’t be expected to be able to wear that uniform at other housekeeping jobs. An employer would not have to pay for a “uniform” of basic wardrobe items, such as black pants, black shoes, and a white shirt.
For public employers, it’s a different story. Local city and county governments and the University of California have constitutional powers to manage their own affairs, including setting employee compensation, which in turn includes uniform expenses. State employees are responsible for initially purchasing uniforms that are required for employment; however, they do receive from the state an annual allowance for uniform replacement. — CELA Editors