Many employees need to wear uniforms, from chain employees to firefighters. Who pays for the uniforms? Who cleans them?
California law answers these and other questions. First, an employee can force employees to wear uniforms. Second, an employer usually must provide the uniform. However, if the uniform is consistent with other in the field, an employee can be forced to but it. For example, a business consultant can be forced to wear a suit and dress shirt. But if the employer’s name is printed on the shirt – or if the color or style is unusual and specific to the company – the employer will have to pay for it. Third, if the uniform is required, the employee has to take care of the normal laundering of the uniform. Employers must generally pay for special cleaning (like dry cleaning, stain removal).
There are some other specifics, but this blog entry provides the big picture of the California law.