Workwear as a Service

Unlike casual or private clothing, workwear is clothing provided by the employer. Workwear creates identity and has a recognition effect for customers. Typically, (work) jackets, (work) trousers and tops such as shirts, blouses, polo shirts or T-shirts are part of workwear. However, depending on the occupation, workwear also includes aprons, smocks, overalls, parkas, softshell jackets, waistcoats or headgear such as bandanas, hairnets or chef's hats. As a rule, underwear does not count as workwear. An exception is flame-retardant undershirts, such as those worn in foundries.

Professional clothing can make it clear that you belong to a team (waiter, consultant, salesperson) or a professional group (pilot, steward/stewardess). When handling unpacked, perishable food, work clothing offers hygienic protection against germs and contamination. When handling sharp-edged work objects or processes such as flexing, grinding or welding, workwear protects against sometimes life-threatening injuries.

In many industries, work clothing is a matter for the boss and is regulated by law for reasons of occupational safety or hygiene requirements. Whenever work clothing serves safety purposes, the boss is obliged to procure, pay for and provide it. This also applies, for example, to outdoor workplaces that require weather protection. Those who work in the food industry are obliged to wear HACCP-compliant work clothes - and the boss must also provide them.

If there is no legal obligation to wear work clothing, company agreements or employment contracts usually regulate all issues relating to work clothing.

The employer may prescribe the wearing of work clothes and oblige the employee to wear work clothes at work. This is always the case if the wearing of special work clothing is regulated by law, for example in the Occupational Health and Safety Act. If there is no corresponding written agreement or basis regulating the use of special work clothing, the employer must justify the order to wear work clothing. However: Those who work in workplaces with (personal) customer contact must accept that the employer determines the external appearance of the employee and thus the official clothing to be worn.

Good workwear is breathable, functional, comfortable on the skin, of high quality, meets the requirements of the profession and, in the best case, is produced regionally and sustainably. Workwear is worn every day, for several hours, and it is important that employees feel comfortable in it and are motivated to put it on anew every day before starting work. The more durable and high-quality the workwear is, the better it is protected against wear and tear. Gentle, hygienic washing processes that ensure good colour brilliance even with daily washing support the aspect of longevity and thus the sustainability of good workwear.

Tax offices recognise flat-rate expenses for typical work clothing as income-related expenses if it was purchased privately. If the work clothing is provided by the employer, it depends on whether it is protective clothing (PPE) or typical work clothing. In both cases, the provision of work clothing does not constitute a pecuniary advantage in the sense of wage tax; this work clothing cannot be deducted from wages. The situation is somewhat different if the clothing can also be used privately.

The employer must provide work clothes in perfect condition, always. If the work clothes have to be changed every day, the work clothes must be in perfect condition every day. If they are not, the employer must immediately provide a replacement. If your boss provides PPE clothing (personal protective equipment), it must be checked regularly for completeness and damage and replaced directly if necessary.