Work expect us to look like models

[Coldpop]

I've started a job in a clothing store where staff wear their own clothes.. or so I thought. No. We have to wear the clothes that work sell and we only get 70% discount. We have to have everything from work, top bottoms and shoes. We also have to wear stuff from the current season, so every 3 months we are expected to buy more tops bottoms shoes as we can no longer wear what isn't being sold in store. I'm on a 18 hour contract, barely over minimum wage. I can't afford this! I'm a mum with a mortgage. Clothes in my family have to last us till they need replacing. I also think it's very wasteful to have to constantly buy clothing. At the least to be able to buy the cheapest stuff from work it will cost me about £80- 100 every 3 months. It's not exactly a cheap store. There's posters up all over the staff room telling us to inspire customers with our outfit choices, that we have to be stylish at all times!. Im used to dressing smart for work.. but Im going to feel mugged every 3 months that I have to part with my wages to be an advert for my employer. I've just started, I've had no wages but I've been asked to sort my outfit choices as soon as possible. Don't know what to do. Is this the norm in retail now?

Staff having to use their wages to buy store clothing is akin to MLM selling than an employment situation.

Agreed. I can understand why a store wouldn't want their staff wearing clothes from other stores though, so maybe they should provide a uniform, or just black jeans and a black top.. or give you staff 2 outfits a month for free to wear to work ..

2. It must not take you below minimum wage. important point from @donquixotedelamancha.
It is obvious that you have to wear current clothes in a clothing store as "uniform", and whilst the staff discount is generous, the requirement for uniform shouldn't push you below minimum wage.
I would suggest an simple combo of wear for a week trousers, with a top of the type of colour / fabric that can be quick or hand-washed each night.

My friend used to work full time in Monsoon and used to just buy the absolute bare minimum, maybe 2/3 outfits and just wear them on rotation and REALLY keep on top of the washing/ironing. She didn't have to wear their shoes though, I imagine that really adds up.

I’ve never noticed either.

Its put me off buying from those places tbh.

I have never understood why unions, or the one union I think for retail, isn't all over this. It's ridiculous.

If The clothes are 75% off , then you can sell them on eBay for 50%-60% below retail price , you can make profit on each item you bought.

I used to work in Laura Ashley as a saturday girl 17 million years ago, and I got a free dress (or enough allowance to buy one) every six months.

Given your limited hours I would talk to your manager and say is there any scope to cover the cost of an outfit for you, or to reduce the cost to you from 80 every 3 months to 35 (to reflect your hours). You can put it against tax, but you should get more help than a full timer. It's different to buying a suit to work in an office in that a even a crappy suit will last 2 or 3 years.

Give your manager a bit of a sob story about your costs and a lot of enthusiasm for the job. They may well have some discretion.

It is not. They are showing off the brand.

But PTers should get a free outfit a season, and FTers 2. At retail wages they shouldn't have to pay for it.

It's an unfair and unreasonable policy.
However if you want to keep the job, go down the route of minimum but obvious compliance- for example choose a top or even a scarf in a print that is obviously from the current range, but nondescript jeans/bottoms, maybe from an older range if you have them. A previous poster suggested excuses for shoes ( fit/foot conditions). Make sure the rest of you ( face/hair) is groomed (red lippy is always a quick result) and if they complain say you'll buy another piece as soon as you have earned the money. Hope it's not an expensive shop!

Has anyone ever actually noticed what staff were wearing and been inspired to buy? Because I haven't!

I'm with you, op. Unless it's in your contract of employment just do what you can manage and if they kick up a fuss, I'd do the same. There was a legal case a few years ago about women being made to wear heels in the office which ended favourably for women and (I'm not a lawyer, but) I would argue this set a precedent.

Also, they should have made the policy clear before you started the job, which it doesn't sound like they did.

In your shoes, I'd be vague about it but carry on.

Isn't this illegal? If you are on minimum wage and you have to spend £80 on uniform every 3 months isn't that putting you below minimum wage? I've never had to pay for work uniform I'd look for another job op.

It’s been the norm for a long time & tbh I think it’s outdated now. Are you set on this job? I wouldn’t tolerate that policy these days and certainly not on a PT contract for minimum wage. You could earn the same somewhere like M&S and have a uniform and better working conditions. Xo

Sound like a con. The company store?

Awful. Can you buy a basic pair of black trousers / jeans and rotate tops? Don’t bother updating every three months?
what are they going to do? Force you to undress and check the labels?

It's not really a uniform and it's not been established how much she'll have to spend. The issue about the minimum wage has been raised a few times upthread, but it is a good point.

If purchasing specific work uniform then puts you below MW the employer has to pay.

A couple years ago I had job requiring specific colour top and trousers. I didn't have any and requested work but me some. They refused and told me to claim tax back if I felt so strongly, until I presented details to them that it was their responsibility as it put me below MW to buy them.

I can't believe this wasn't explained at interview?

Retail is crying out for employees, turn the job down and apply elsewhere .. maybe Waitrose where you will be supplied with a uniform, get discount and lots of other benefits. If you have a local Waitrose of course, but other supermarkets will supply uniform and give discount on food which will be more beneficial.

"£ 80 every 3 months up dating your wardrobe isn't excessive".

Perhaps not to you rich Aunt Pennybags. However it clearly is to Op or she wouldn't have started this thread. Its not your place to say what's not excessive.

Are you stupid?
£80-£100 minimum for something you HAVE to wear for work, not necessarily something you want.
Not everyone has that spare cash regularly - what about around christmas when OP has to get presents for her kids?
It’s a required and uniform so the company should cover it,
It’s also extremely wasteful.

That's a really good idea.

I think you can get away with shoes. Otherwise as others have said, trousers that are always in and two tops, preferably from their basic or classic range if they have one so that it stays in. Perhaps buy a dress every season, that would come to £10.

I've started a job in a clothing store where staff wear their own clothes.. or so I thought. No. We have to wear the clothes that work sell and we only get 70% discount. We have to have everything from work, top bottoms and shoes.

I worked at Debenhams a few years ago, I had a uniform but the girls who worked for the concessions all had to do what you described. It’s pretty standard. And many see it as a good perk - 70% off brand new stock! Did you think when you go into top shop or new look they all wear their own regular clothes?? I guess they should have told you but I think it’s just probably seen as obvious so they didn’t think to mention it.

This is all pretty standard stuff to be honest.