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?

Not RTFT but: I also think it's very wasteful to have to constantly buy clothing. - suggests you're in the wrong job. The company would close down if that was the attitude. As it happens I completely agree with you that it's wasteful, but that's the industry you're in. Your position is like a car salesman being in extinction rebellion. Doesn't really track!

It is the norm in clothing retail but it doesn't make it any better for the OP being paid on barely minimum wage.

It is a form of staff exploitation, imho.
If they want the staff to advertise their clothes then they should provide them, regardless of tax breaks and the existence of Vinted.

And it isn't a perk to have to buy clothes there.

Which shop is this? DD used to work in River Island just 8 hours a week when 16-18. Every quarter she got to pick an outfit (not including shoes) to wear free. She had to wear RI clothes and could in theory have worn the same free outfit every Saturday and Sunday but because there was a staff discount too, she did buy their clothes so always had something to wear. As soon as she left she never bought another thing from there though :-)

I think not getting any free outfits is taking the .

I am in my 30s and have never noticed that the staff are wearing the clothes of the shop. I'm genuinely shocked & disgusted in this. Forcing your staff to purchase clothes out the shop every 3 months is an absolute disgrace. If they want their staff to advertise their clothes then they should provide the clothes. What if you cant afford it every 3 months?! Shocking! Imagine working for morrisons/tesco/sainsburys and being forced into buying their food shop in order to advertise it to your friends and family. I would look for a new job OP and shame them - especially shaming them for nagging you to buy their clothes before you have even had your first wage! Shocking!

This is the sort of bullshit that keeps the fashion industry going. It's about continual consumption. Never have I ever bought an item because staff were wearing it.

They're making money out of you, even at discount.

Totally agree with this.
Not only is completly unreasonable, but totally wasteful too. To tackle climate change we need to stop fast fashion.
Buying clothes evert three moths as a grown adult is not justified any more. There are european and world targets to meet I'm 2030 and the fashion industry is not an exception.
And it's morally wrong to ask someone to expend their own money in updating their wardrobe with their store clothes.
Wrong wrong wrong.

If its compulsory work uniform company should pay it, the money shouldn't come out of your wages.
It disgusts me what these companies are allowed to get away with.

I was just wondering about potential NMW implications.

I had no idea this went on and I think it's a fucking cheek. They should give staff an amount to spend on work clothes each season, that is sufficient for 2 or 3 outfits, and let them choose what they want. If they want any more stuff from the store, then they can buy it at a discount.

Why should low-paid workers have to spend their own money effectively advertising their employer's "brand"?

I can't get over how terrible for the environment this is. I understand them wanting you to wear that shop's clothes, but so wasteful to replace all your work clothes 4 times a year.

When I worked for Laura Ashley-first in shop and then head office we got one free outfit per season-there were a few things to choose from-not everything.

That was your "uniform" and you were expected to be head to toe LA at work.

There was also a staff closet that you could borrow from.
You also got a 25% discount on everything else.

It seems a lot to expect part time employees to spend that much on their "uniform"

I worked in mango and we were provided with seasonal outfits to wear , tops skirts trousers shoes etc all free it was a uniform and each season had a ‘ look ‘ , we also got discount also for ourselves .

Well, I’ve learnt something new AND the staff’s money has been wasted because I have never noticed they always all wear their employer’s clothing.

If its not in your contract you don't have to do it. Even if it is in your contract, it must not take you below minimum wage. This would be illegal.

@donquixotedelamancha is giving good advice on the first page. Check your contract. Speak to acas and put everything in writing. Quote the letter of the law when refusing.

Jojo Maman Bebe gives you a uniform.

Well that’s good news because I haven’t worn a babygro in bloody years now. Don’t think I’ve got the bum to pull it off these days.

What a ridiculous comment of course £80 is excessive for uniform every 3 months.

I have experienced this myself when I was younger on 4 hour contracts. It pisses me off when I think back.

As for the comments regarding monsoon/next being a nicer place to work than Tesco. I actually disagree! I never worked in any of the above 3 but have worked in clothes shops and supermarkets. Supermarkets I enjoyed so much more! I was bored stiff in clothes shops literally tidy clothes all day.

Anyway I agree with you OP but not sure what you can really do. I do remember in working in Coast purposely picking out the cheapest outfit I could find.

😆😆

Stop being so dramatic.

Talk to your manager and shop savvy with your uniform.

If you're working 18 hours you only need 1 outfit. Top and bottom. See if there is a staple item that they don't change often, like a basic trouser or skirt that you can wear for the year.

Second talk to the manager. Usually there is a bit of leeway on these things. I once had a job at a petite brand and I'm 6ft! Obviously clothes from that brand were never going to fit me. My manager got permission for me to wear a sister brand's clothes.

I worked at H&M about twenty plus years ago. I remember we got a small discount, about 20%, but we didn't have to wear their brand or what was currently in store. I remember pricier high street stores had about a 70% discount but employees had to wear the clothes. I was only doing two and half days a week so no way would it have been worth my while to buy their clothes to work there.

You make next to no money on second hand clothes. It’s not the same as electronics.

I’m shocked by the comments that say this is normal for clothes shops ! Stop applying for jobs with them and name & shame.
No way should you be buying this amount of clothes from them.

I would just buy 1 pair of trousers / skirt and 1 top (or 2 tops and rotate them?)
But I only wear about 3 outfits in a rotation and I work 5 days a week!

When I was a student and working in next, river island and French connection I LOVED getting new uniform. I worked in Next back when the staff wore formal dress, I used the suits for interviews when I was looking for graduate jobs and then for years after that.

If it’s not for you, that’s fine. Most people on retail loved it. It was six monthly usually.

Isn’t this quite simple and a “them against us” mountain that’s been created out of a mole hole (when it isn’t)?

My thinking being. Isn’t the cost of buying the clothes not just a cost of sales ie in this case one of the costs that you incur when selling your time to the employer in exchange for pay?

I think it’s a simple matter of it’ll cost OP to undertake her job (including those associated with the need to comply with dress code policy) and OP needs to weigh up if that’s a good return on investment for her.

if it is a good return, fantastic, get on with the job and enjoy it.

if it isn’t, then rather than moan about it, exercise your decision to choose where you work and just find another job that does give the returns wanted.

other posters have given great advice on how to minimise the costs by buying tactically and possibly even generate a side revenue which sounds like fantastic advice.

p.s There’s other “costs of sale” that could be considered in the same bracket that seem to be (rightly!) ignored on this thread such as commuting costs, lunch costs, childcare (if any) costs, underwear (presumably they’re not required to be branded!) etc….

I'd just buy their cheapest top and bottoms every three months as my work uniform.

I agree it's shit though.

If you work at Nando's you get fed for free plus 40% off if you go there on your own time.