Legal Uniform Requirements
Although employers have the freedom to decide whether or not to implement a staff uniform at their workplace, if they choose to enforce a uniform policy, it legally must comply with the Equality Act 2010.
The Equality Act 2010 states that dress codes and uniform policies must not discriminate based on any of the nine protected characteristics: race, sex, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy and maternity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, religion or belief, and gender reassignment.
Under the Equality Act, employers must also be sure to make reasonable adjustments in their dress code or uniform policy for employees with protected characteristics. This could include altering uniform items to accommodate staff with religious or medical needs.
Can You Refuse to Wear a Uniform at Work?
Generally in the UK, you cannot refuse to wear a work uniform, especially if it is clearly stated in your employment contract and doesn’t discriminate against you.
If you believe that your work uniform is unreasonable, poses a health and safety risk or is causing you genuine discomfort, you will need to discuss this with your employer.
Who Should Pay for Work Uniforms?
Employers have no legal obligation to pay for their employees’ uniforms. However, following a change to the law in 2022, employers must provide suitable PPE to all of their workers. So if your job requires you to wear, say, hi-vis clothing or protective gloves for safety reasons, these should be provided for you.
Some employers may wish to deduct the cost of the work uniform from their employees' wages; however, they are only permitted to do so if there is a clearly-written contractual provision allowing for a wage deduction. In such cases, the employer must ensure that the amount of pay remaining is at least in compliance with the National Minimum Wage.
If a worker’s pay falls below the minimum wage after uniform deductions, this is against the law.
Where Can I Buy High-Quality Work Uniforms in Bulk?
If you are an employer looking to order custom staff uniforms for your team, you’re in the right place! Here at My Garment Factory, we stock a wide range of clothing items, most of which can be customised with either print or embroidery to create professional and cohesive work uniforms.
Whether you work in an office, a kitchen, a hospital or some other industry sector, we are sure you will be able to find all the items you need to curate a custom uniform for your workforce.
