Bit of advice needed - Retail/Uniform

[cupraajy]

Hope the wealth of knowledge on here will be able to provide some advice on the below.

My girlfriend works in clothes store in a shopping centre. She is only contracted to work 16 hours a week…..at minimum wage I might add, with the option of a few extra shift here and there….still at her normal hourly rate.

Part of the requirements when she started was she had to buy a couple “outfits” from the store to form her uniform. She gets discount of 50% on items up to a certain value per calendar month. Which is a decent discount, but the clothing they sell are expensive and her “Uniform” when she started 6 weeks ago cost in the region of £150. So a big chunk out of her monthly wage straight away.

Goes into work today and is told that the items of clothing that she had previously purchased are now on sale and she will have to purchase new items. So potentially another £150 out of her pay packet this coming month.

Question I am asking….is this normal for the retail? Should she be expected to shell out all this money, based on the fact she is on minimum wage? is there anyone she could seek advice from on this matter?

Thanks in Advance for any replies or advice.

[edc]

That sounds like Jack Wills or similar. Those sorts of places get away with it because the job is more 'lifestyle' than needing to earn money for many of their employees. In other companies I've worked with where uniform or PPE is a requirement of the job (eg security) then the cost is borne by the company (or rather costed into the customer contract price).

[Foliage]

What does I say in her contract and staff hand book?

[cupraajy]

Thanks for the replies so far. When she gets home tonight she is going to show me her contract. And will advise if there is anything that stands out.

[truck71]

Others more informed can advise on the legality of the position op's OH is in however the bigger picture is there are loads of retail jobs where this situation won't be the case. If current wage is at the minimum level then any move can only be as good if not better.

[Gargamel]

I guess the question is, what will be the employers reaction if she doesn't buy the outfits ?

As with any new role she has very little "rights" as an employee in these situations


The only possible approach would be to calculate out her net salary, then look at the clothing costs. I would say if it is more than around 10% of net wages then she should approach her employers and explain that she is struggling to meet this expenditure so frequently.

[KFC]

I would forget what the employee hand book says as its probably a legal issue rather than a contract one.

This would appear to suggest that she's working for under minimum wage, as those uniform costs need to be deducted before its calculated - https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage/employers...

Perhaps the employer will argue its not just uniform as the employee could wear them out of work if they wanted. I'd argue that if they're being forced to where them in work, then they're uniform.

You likely need real legal advice.

With most things with kids working stty part time jobs.... the practical advice would be suck it up, or find another job.

[bazza white]

Quit and report to local paper.

I worked in retail for years and where the employer required you to wear their own brand you were given a monthly or quarterly allowance especially in premium or a massive discount. 50% is a joke, margins are big on clothing and even bigger on premium brands. Put it this way sports direct you were given a top or 2 and then required to pay for adidas bottoms. You got a 80% discount so only about £4.

[z4RRSchris]

I worked at jack wills back in 2005,

85% off, had to wear current season gabber but was upto you what, end of season you could flog it on eBay. Once sold a Tshirt with STAFF on the back for £100!

I think now they have to pick "outfits"

[KFC]

bazza white said:

Quit and report to local paper.

I would be careful with that.

Rightly or wrongly, other bosses may just see you as a trouble maker. Even for someone with a legitimate complaint, I wouldn't hire someone who just ran the local newspaper with a complaint like that.

I think the only sensible option is find another job, and leave.

[slipstream 1985]

work related expenses come of your tax free income do they not?

[wellzee]

z4RRSchris said:

I worked at jack wills back in 2005,

85% off, had to wear current season gabber but was upto you what, end of season you could flog it on eBay. Once sold a Tshirt with STAFF on the back for £100!

I think now they have to pick "outfits"

That's why I quit at Jack Wills back in 2008 when I worked for them as a student. We had 75% off any items and could buy and wear what we wanted, no one really complained as you could pick and choose and most of the stuff you'd wear day-to-day outside of work anyway. They then changed their policy that all staff had to dress in one of the 'looks' from the JW Handbook. This meant greater outlay and for me I wouldn't have been seen dead in any of them, so I quit along with many others. If OP, it is a brand like JW your other half works for, the problem is there are enough people who love the discount enough to view it as a 'benefit' of the job rather than a cost.

[Moonhawk]

Sounds a bit crap.

If the shop require you to wear the latest clothes from their range - they should either give you them for free - or at the very least at cost.

[Vaud]

KFC said:

I wouldn't hire someone who just ran the local newspaper with a complaint like that.

Probably safe - not many people read local papers, let alone remember names.

[KFC]

Vaud said:

Probably safe - not many people read local papers, let alone remember names.

Those local papers end up online, and many people recruiting will Google the applicant though...