I've worked with the same caregiving company for quite a while (Home Instead Senior Care in Federal Way) and I read in the newsletter that came in the mail with my paycheck in December that we will be required to wear a uniform: black slacks, dark shoes, and blue blouse or shirt with sleeves. We were supposed to start wearing them starting January 1. Simple enough. It galled me to wear a uniform since we are supposed to be working in a home setting, but I didn't question the legality of the mandatory uniform. I of course bought everything by the time it was supposed to become mandatory. Then a message on the hourse worked hotline said uniforms aren't mandatory until Feb. 1. Then the office reopens after christmas (it was closed about a week till Jan. 2) and they make a new message on the hours worked hotline saying that their idea of what the uniform should be had changed: it will be a NAVY blue blouse or polo shirt (only one of the shirts I bought will do) and KHAKI colored pants (not jeans) and LIGHT colored shoes. I already bought everything! Then I look up something on the Internet that says under Washington State law they were suppose to pay for uniforms in the first place? Can anyone help clarify things for me before I talk to them? I found out last night but didn't call today because I am fuming and can't afford to anger the bosses, you know. It was over the course of a few weeks that I bought it all, amidst other shopping of course, but I think I spent about $100 for 5 outfits (I'm a good thrift and discout store shopper, fortunately.) I don't wear this stuff on my days off, so it's useless to me! I hate this, I don't make enough to let this slide. After Christmas and the original uniform, I really don't feel like spending more money :confused:

The problem you have is that, since the required clothing does not appear to qualify as a "uniform", they are not required to pay for new clothing you bought to adhere to the old requirements. Those items would not be considered "uniforms" since they can be worn as street clothes without anybody knowing who you work for (even a company logo is not enough to make it a uniform) and what you do.