Monsoon uniform policy

[Terriluvsshoes]

My daughter has just started working for monsoon "8 hour contract"but has been told she must buy the full uniform, i.e jeans as well as tops.. other members of staff are stating that if you work under 16 hours you just need to buy the blouse or jumper and you can wear your own jeans, it's going to be very expensive. when asking for the uniform policy from the manager it just gets dismissed saying in other branches they do their own thing.. has anybody got any confirmation or a copy of a policy booklet? Patterned blouses can only be worn with denim, Now being told it's a particular pair of Monsoon jeans, after buying monsoon denim jeans already!.. thank you

Google buying uniform and under minimum wage. There’s something about how some people ended up getting less than MW because they had to buy their uniform. I don’t know the details sorry but might be worth a look.

Take the wrong jeans back and wear normal ones in the style of the official ones. I doubt they will even notice if they do tell her to say that's fine as soon as a copy of the uniform policy is produced with the exact brand of jeans required in she will sort it. She wouldn't want to get the wrong ones again.

Does she get staff discount to use? Some places like this have a say 90% discount on uniform clothing and 30% generally etc.

My sister worked in a similar retail shop, and they offered an 80% discount on their "uniform" clothes. Does Monsoon not do that too?

The denim jeans can't be taken back because they have been worn yes there is 70% discount but it still comes out of the wages. Monsoon in 2015 was fined as they paid minimum wage and then having to buy the uniform took them below that. She will wear the jeans with the new approved blouse, but will be told off. Asking for proof of the policy seems to be an issue, and mistakes are expensive given that different staff say different rules apply.

One member of staff had no uniform on the other day and when asked she said she was just waiting for payday to buy more so there's so many inconsistencies in the branch

Aren't their jeans about 50quid a pair? If so I don't think £15 Is a Lot to pay for a pair of jeans that not only fit the uniform guidelines but also can be worn outside work.

When my dd worked in retail she had to wear the current seasons clothes, but could choose anything and purchase with a 90% discount.

She is aware that she also has to buy an item from each season so buying one blouse will not do. She will need to buy another blouse after the current season finishes too. But in saying that if she is only doing 8 hours one blouse is enough. She could buy a pair of their jeans and wear them for a few seasons perhaps?

The issue is on purchasing the denim jeans has been told they can be worn with a patterned blouse in preparation now being told all they should have been the dark skinny ones not the ones you bought will then that's not fair because again although it's 70% off 1520 pound here and there every month is still a lot for a youngster only on £8 an hour. Yes they can be worn outside of work too

i work in a similar type shop

Anyone who works 8 hours has to wear full uniform or smart black bottoms from anywhere and a work top which changes with new seasons

It is a bit manager dependent but there should still be a definitive rule

And having to pay for your own uniform can be a pain....no matter how cheap it is

But there are really very few jobs that exist where clothing is supplied completely for free. Even the ones where a top is provided she would still need to buy her own black trousers etc

There should be some sort of brand book with all the rules in it, then it would be up to the manager to enforce...or not

tulips

Hmrc are currently looking into that as well, the suggestion is that you shouldn't have to pay for uniform if it puts you under NMW

@Terriluvsshoes i worked in fashion retail for 8 years and all staff had to be in full branded clothing.they got a free allowance each season and then an extra allowance that could be purchased at 70% off.

The free allowance management had a big say over what could be bought, staff couldn't just wear jeans and toos all the time, they had to have some of the dressier options too, obvipusly used their free if they didn't think they would wear it outside of work.

Of course staff have to be in the branded clothes, thats how you sell them. Also £8 an hour is a hell of a lot better than the £5.17 i was paid at 18yo 10 years ago.

Think of it as a perk now all her clothes cost 70%less.

This rule is so unfair.

I remember when I had my first Saturday job - in an office. It was quite low pay and not very glamorous (but good experience). Then my friends all started getting Saturday jobs in clothes shops - better pay and much more kudos. BUT they had to spend nearly everything they earned on clothes from that store for uniform. What a swindle. I would have thought things would have moved on in 30 years!

@lazypuppy... yes they are walking mannequins I agree with wearing the clothes but there's so many inconsistencies between what the staff wear and what each manager says just trying to clarify it the clothes are nice but this just needs to be streamlined across this store and all the other stores of course the pay is different were in 2019 why wouldn't it be!? Only working 8 hours, not 49 it appears there are different rules...

Monsoon are notorious for this - a friend turned down a position with them because of their uniform policy