should I ask work to pay for this? AIBU to think they should?

[Ilovesunflowers]

I am not sure if I am being unreasonable or not. This week I had to work in some pretty horrible conditions (I can't go into details as it would identify me if colleagues use this forum). It ruined 2 pairs of trousers and a pair of shoes (completely irrepairable). 1 pair of trousers was only 2 months old and they were my favourite pair.

Would it be unreasonable to ask work to contribute towards replacing them? I wouldn't mind as much if I had loads of clothes but my wardrobe is limited and I am too broke to buy new clothes at the moment.

Not unreasonable. When I have been in situation where work has flooded they offered to replace damaged clothinhg

Didn't they give you overalls?? Depending on what you were doing, they should have supplied protective clothing. IIRC, you do have a tax allowance for clothing used for work, such as shoes, so you should look into this.

Of course they should pay for them, you ruined them 'in the line of duty'. Unless you're a vet or something and it's par for the course.

Thanks for the replies. It wasn't anticipated that we would need protective clothing and it wasn't really their fault. It came down to the weather. Sorry if that is drip feeding.

I feel guilty asking but they wouldn't be wrecked if we weren't working in those conditions.

Absolutely they should pay if they didn't provide protective clothing. Put in a claim. Don't throw them out if you still have them - and try to find the receipts if they're around.

A SW friend of mine got money for clothes that were ruined during a visit. Perfectly R if you ask me.

if you are expected to wear your own clothes and there is a possibility of them getting ruined in your normal duties then YABU

if this was a freak even that you & colleagues had to react to then you can ask but I know what the reply would be at my work if I asked but it wouldn't stop me being pissed off about it

Apparently, and I could be wrong, but everyone can put a tax claim in for clothes, I'm sure money saving expert dude had a bit about it.

Thank you for all your thoughts.

Pretty sure you're wrong about that MrsKeithRichards. It's one thing it's quite hard to claim as a business expense as most people wear clothes, whether working or not. I'm pretty sure there have been test cases where someone has attempted to make a claim for clothes they would "only wear for work" and had it rejected. Work clothes/protective gear/uniforms and costumes possibly - everything else, probably not.
Pity though !

uniforms you can definitely get a tax allowance for, your own clothes that you choose to wear? not a hope

Ah I see is it for the washing of uniform?

I know when dh was self employed part of his return was for the washing of clothing but he did have to wear specific work stuff.

I seem to remember that there are different tax rules for self-employed. Maybe that's it?

very little clothes can be claimed against tax - have to be specific work related clothes that cannot be used elsewhere (overalls etc).
One female presenter tried to claim she would work naked but her employer would not allow it, so needed clothes only for work. She lost her case here

It's hard to say without knowing what your job is and what happened that ruined your clothes.

If it wasn't their fault though, then I think YABU. Unless it was a freak think that they could claim on insurance for, in which case, YANBU. Can you bring it up with your boss to work out their reaction?

Why did it ruin two pairs of trousers? I can understand one, but why two?