In the March issue, you explained the rules
regarding when employers must provide or pay for employee uniforms. I have a
follow-up question. We provide employee uniforms: cotton golf shirts and
easy-care pants. However, we require employees to clean these items themselves,
and we don’t reimburse them for cleaning costs. Are we violating the law?
– George in Oakland
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.
No, you’re not violating the
law. When uniforms require only “minimal care,” such as regular machine washing
and tumble or drip drying,
law permits employers to require employees to do their own uniform maintenance
without payment.
But when uniform
maintenance involves more—for example, if uniforms must be dry-cleaned, ironed,
or separately laundered because colors could bleed or they are heavily soiled—the
California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement takes the position that the
employer must maintain the uniforms itself or pay employees a weekly uniform
maintenance allowance. The allowance must be one hour’s pay at the current minimum
wage rate ($8 per hour), provided that uniform maintenance is expected to take
no more than one hour per week. If dry cleaning is required, however, the
allowance must cover the actual cost of the cleaning servic