In the United States, it’s not uncommon for employers to make employees pay for their uniforms.
According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, this practice is legal so long as the worker’s wage including the deduction for uniform costs doesn’t fall below the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour.
“Federal law allows employers to deduct the cost of supplying and maintaining a uniform (having it mended or cleaned and pressed) from an employee’s paycheck, as long as the employee’s wages after the deduction don’t fall below the minimum wage,” explains NOLO.
“If you earn only the minimum wage, your employer may not require you to pay for a uniform, through payroll deductions or otherwise,” the site continues. “However, if you earn enough to cover the minimum wage and your uniform costs, your employer is free to take the deduction.”
This can also apply when one leaves a job, as TikTok user Trevy (@dangtrevy) recently noted in a video with over 167,000 views.
@dangtrevy Thanks @littlecaesarspizza . As if I couldn’t afford my bills as it is with your wage. #fyp #littlecaesars #pizzapizza #norespect ♬ Hard Work – U.S. Drill Sergeant Field Recordings
“Apparently this shirt is worth $25 and will be taken out of my $11 an hour paycheck,” Trevy writes in the text overlaying the video.
In the comment sections, he explains his situation further.
“The GM said to bring the shirts back or it will be taken out of my paycheck. So I guess my check will be $50 less this week,” he stated. “The [managers] at this location are a joke. Basically why I quit . I was working circles around them.”
Essentially, according to him, Trevy quit the position and will have a deduction of $50 from his final paycheck unless he brings back his two uniform shirts.
“It’s called clout,” he joked in a comment. “I’ve got many work costumes.”
Still, many users on TikTok were upset by the notion of buying the clothes that a company requires an employee to wear.
“You should immediately leave places that do that. It means their turnover is so high that they were losing thousands of dollars giving those for free,” wrote a user.
“I mean the pizzas are 5 dollars,” offered another. “They gotta make their money somewhere.”
“Cost the company $2… if you force your employees to wear company clothing then the company should pay for it,” shared a third. “I supply company shirts for employees.”
We’ve reached out to Little Caesars via email and Trevy via TikTok comment.
Update 9:40am CT, Feb. 27: In an email to the Daily Dot, a Little Caesars spokesperson shared the following:
“Little Caesars does not charge crew members for company-issued uniforms. If employment with the company ends, we do kindly request they return their uniforms upon completion of their last workday. Some independent franchisees may have different policies in place.”
Update 7pm CT, Feb. 27: In a TikTok DM exchange with Daily Dot, Trevy says he still has his uniform shirts.
“I did end up keeping both of the shirts. I never got a paystub from them, so I’m not sure if the shirts ever ended up coming out of my check,” he wrote. He noted that he was given his final direct deposit.
As to why he kept the shirts, he says the reason is simple.
“Kinda as a last ‘fuck you,'” he shared. “They thought they could bring me down by threatening to charge me for them when I wasn’t even making enough to survive.”
“Those jobs aren’t worth my time or skill level,” he concluded. “It was a fun experience.”
