Looking into renting work uniforms? Start here.
Work clothing can change everything. It can change how you feel about going to work every day, it can change how you feel customers perceive you, and it can affect how well you can perform your job. If you are an employer, understanding everything you can about work uniforms will help you determine the best course of action for your business, starting with what counts as a work uniform.
What Is a Work Uniform?
A work uniform is a set of clothing specific to a company or industry that distinguishes itself from everyday street clothes and other professions and/or businesses. A work uniform may be clothing purchased from a specific clothing company and be unique in its style, material, colors, and logo.
Types of Work Uniforms
Work uniforms can vary based on seasonal needs, such as long vs. short sleeves and pants vs. shorts, but they also vary greatly by industry. Main types of industries that need different work uniforms include hospitality, automotive, retail, manufacturing, food service, and medical industries. Customer-facing trades, like plumbers, landscapers, and electricians, can also have work uniforms. If the job exposes employees to hazardous conditions, personal protection equipment (PPE) will be legally required.
Work Uniform Laws
Work uniform laws can be found on the national level through the U.S. Department of Labor and the state where your business operates. Work uniform laws matter because they protect the employee against illegal wage deductions and infringements on employee rights. A particular industry may require work uniforms based on other laws.
Do Employees Have to Pay for Uniforms?
Employers may not make employees pay for their own work uniforms if it cuts their pay below minimum wage or into required overtime compensation. If employers cover work uniform costs, the payment will count as a business expense, which qualifies for tax cuts.
Are Work Uniforms Worth It?
Work uniforms can help employees identify each other, customers identify employees, and the public recognize the company’s brand in a positive light. Work uniforms help employees do their jobs, and customers get the help they need. With the right design, they can be far from boring, tacky, or uncomfortable. Tried and true, they are definitely worth it for many companies. Could Lord Baltimore Uniform Rental be your work uniform rental provider?
Trust Your Employee Uniforms to the Professionals at Lord Baltimore
For over forty years, Lord Baltimore has provided cost-effective uniform rental services throughout the East Coast, including Maryland, Washington DC, Northern Virginia, Southern Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
To learn more about how employee uniforms can help your business, please contact Joe Bateman at Lord Baltimore by calling 800-292-1224 or visit LordBaltimoreUniform.com. We also handle uniform and mat rentals and purchases for restaurants. Additionally, we also sell and rent uniforms, shop towels, fender covers, and mats for the manufacturing and automotive industries.