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Working Clothes: how and why

Definition, Explanation

Working clothes or work clothes are worn in service jobs on the one hand for reasons of hygiene, e.g. cooking or in the medical sector. On the other hand, they make it easy to recognize the occupation, e.g. stewardess, pilot, judge, policeman, fireman, chimney sweepers and others. More and more companies are implementing clothing as a label, as corporate identity. Examples of this are the employees at McDonald's or even exhibition personnel, who wear a crew uniform. Such clothing has to be hardwearing and practical. It promotes the feeling of a shared identity and signalises to the customer a positive appearance. At the same time, hierarchical differences can be made visible on the uniforms.

Protective clothing is also a part of working clothes. Primarily, it serves as a protection of the body. A helmet, working gloves, protective goggles, safety shoes, ear protection and white coats are protective clothing.

One speaks of work clothes when the employer prescribes the clothing. Colour, material, appearance are stipulated. The institution supplies it free of charge. Usually the clothing is a uniform.

Fundamentally, the employee is obliged to acquire working clothes. Yet, the employer can supply and assign the clothing. This is tax-free according to § 3 Nr. 31 EstG (German Income Tax Act). The requirement of the employee to make use of typical working clothes is stipulated by regulations for the prevention of accidents, by the trade agreement or the company agreement.

Tips, Checklist

• If you wear typical working clothes as in the case of a doctor, postal worker, waiter, chimneysweeper, for example, then you can write off acquisition costs for washing as advertising costs against tax, on the condition that they are not used on a private basis. Normal street wear and business clothes, shoes and underwear are not regarded as typical working clothes. Save the invoice to claim the costs

Last update: 07/14/2010