mandatory uniforms paid for by employee in Alabama

[browneyes_413]

I work for a company that requires their employees to wear certain uniforms. When I first started with this company, they provided the uniforms and now they are changing the uniform code and informing us that we now have to pay for the uniform ourselves. Is this legal for them to do or are they trying to just collect monies from their employees? Can the employees take a stand and not pay for the uniforms? This is just a barely above minimum wage job that we work. I am in the state of Alabama. Any help from anyone who knows the answer to this question, would be greatly appreciated.

[Pattymd]

The Alabama website was not terribly forthcoming (well, not at all) regarding whether or not you may be required to pay for uniforms and whether such applicable deductions can be made from your pay for them. However, generally speaking, if the "uniform" is something that is unique enough that you would not normally wear it out on the street, the company must provide the uniforms at no cost to the employee. This does not include regular street wear that just, for example, has the company-logo.

Your best bet is to contact your local office of the state Dept. of Industrial Relations to inquire.