This is not fair of DS employers ...

[Cutecat78]

DS has a minimum wage paid bar job at a large well known chain of holiday parks.

Today he went to work in a shirt and tie (he normally wears a t-shirt provided by the company).

He said this week is "Gin" week and they all have to dress smart, he had to go to Primark to get some shirts and ties as did not have enough for an entire week and they have all been covered in alcohol (and sweat ). The other week they had to wear something else (can't remember what) for Wimbledon.

AIBU to think if you are going to have "themed" weeks and you are a massive company paying minimum wage you should probably provide these outfits for your staff?

I am a bit actually.

My work introduced a no uniform week this week.

£1 a shift.

The weird bit? We don't have uniforms. We wear our own clothes anyway.

So you basically gave them £1 a day for nothing?!

YABU, it's just a bit of fun.

Yes - but DS can't afford to buy all the different outfits he needs for the "themes" he earns under £6 an hour.

If he is minimum wage could this be construed as paying less than minimum wage? I honestly don't know. What would happen if he didn't adhere to the "themes"?

Might be worth giving ACAS a call for clarification

YANBU, I don't mean this in a condescending way at all but compared to
Some your DS is quite lucky. It's not illegal (to my knowledge) while it's not great either.
One of my previous employers demanded a "uniform" of sorts be worn. Manager selected 2 outfits to be worn (4 in total 2 for the men plus 2 for the women) from high street stores... Except the 2 outfits the women like myself had to buy were from river island and cost £104. Which was not reimbursed or covered in any way. I was only on £250pw pre tax and NI.

The relevant guidance is here - example 3 demonstrates this scenario - but it may depend on whether there are sanctions for employees who don't wear the required clothing.

YY to contacting ACAS - tell DS to keep any receipts and any communications from the employer where he is told what to wear - emails, text messages etc should all be acceptable evidence

Not sure if it makes any difference that he's on zero hours contract.

I guess if he kicks up a stink he'll get less hours and they won't have him back next season anyway

Zero hours is irrelevant - he has the same entitlement to minimum wage as anyone else. I'll PM you.

If it wouldnt be ok to do this to an older person working in this place or a parent working there then it shouldnt be ok to do it to a young person either.

Thanks bin

I would've got 2 shirts snd rotated, washing in between.

Does he have to take part? Can't he just wear normal uniform?

I think there is an "expectation"