Mum livid as job’s ‘uniform policy’ will cost her hundreds – and money goes to employer

A woman has lashed out at the uniform policy enforced by her new employers, as she will have no choice but the spend hundreds of pounds a year – and the money benefits her bosses

It is not uncommon for retail workers to wear clothes sold instore to help sales. Sometimes it is required as part of the role. But normally, hefty employee discounts help out staff – and for many, this is seen as a job perk.

But one woman has lashed out at her work ‘s similar policy, which stipulates she can only wear the store’s latest fashions while on the job. As such, she will be forced to fork out hundreds of pounds a year to follow the strict rules. And since she has to purchase clothes from her workplace, the money goes to her employers.

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Explaining her issue, the mum complained that it is wasteful and unfair to expect employees to buy new clothes every three months, as she is expected to do.

She aired her grievances in a post shared to Mumsnet, titled: ” Work expect us to look like model.”

The mum claimed: “I’ve started a job in a clothing store where staff wear their own clothes.. or so I thought. No. We have to wear the clothes that work sell and we only get 70% discount.

“We have to have everything from work, top bottoms and shoes. We also have to wear stuff from the current season, so every 3 months we are expected to buy more tops bottoms shoes as we can no longer wear what isn’t being sold in store.

She added: “I’m on a 18 hour contract, barely over minimum wage. I can’t afford this! I’m a mum with a mortgage. Clothes in my family have to last us till they need replacing. I also think it’s very wasteful to have to constantly buy clothing.

“At the least to be able to buy the cheapest stuff from work it will cost me about £80- 100 every 3 months. It’s not exactly a cheap store. There’s posters up all over the staff room telling us to inspire customers with our outfit choices, that we have to be stylish at all times!

“I’m used to dressing smart for work.. but Im going to feel mugged every 3 months that I have to part with my wages to be an advert for my employer.”

The mum has also been asked to sort her new clothes soon, despite having not yet been paid, according to her post.

“I’ve just started, I’ve had no wages but I’ve been asked to sort my outfit choices as soon as possible,” she explained.

Her message concluded: “Don’t know what to do. Is this the norm in retail now?”

Many people were quick to express sympathy for the mum, though several also pointed out lots of stores employ similar polices.

One person wrote: “Completely unreasonable of them to expect you to buy new clothes in the store everything three months, even with a discount.”

“They should give you the clothes for free as a work uniform,” agreed a second.

But another commented: “This has almost always been the case in clothes shops. 70-75% staff discount on uniform allowance.”

And someone said: “£80 every three months updating your wardrobe isn’t excessive and you don’t have to waste your old stuff you can donate it to charity or sell it and recoup some of the cost.”

However, several people blasted this verdict. As someone pointed out: “It is to a lot of people!

But commenters did agree the mum should look for ways to save money,

Keen to help, one responder asked: “Can you carefully choose clothes that they sell for a bit longer, like jeans?

“How often do you do a clothes wash? If it’s a couple of times a week that could mean you can get away with just two tops? So that would bring your 3 monthly spend right down.”

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