Shop supplied uniforms

[CAautogroup]

Hello all,

 

We are in the process of obtaining uniforms for the techs and choose to go about purchasing them on our own rather than through a company like Cintas due to excess costs.

 

 

For those of you who do the same, do you hold a certain amount from the first pay check in the event the shirts are not returned?

 

How would you handle something like this?

 

 

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

 

Regards,

 

Nick

[CAZM]

We with hold from the last paycheck if they are not returned.

[cleenyc99]

every place I've ever worked withheld the last check

[Joe Marconi]

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[CAautogroup]

What would you do in the event they get their pay check and do not return for work? ie.. they simply quit without 2 weeks notice or even any notice at all?

 

 

Thanks,

 

Nick

[carolinahigear]

Are you going to wash the uniforms or have the techs wash the uniforms?? I have been using a uniform service since 1970, and it is very easy to use a service vs. buying the uniforms. I understand that uniforms are an expense, but my clients pay for my techs' uniforms through shop supply charges and optimizing the gross profit on jobs. The uniform route driver handles everything, and all I do is write the check.

 

Speaking of the check, I enjoy writing the check every Wednesday because it prompts me to remember that somebody's going to pay for those uniforms today!!

[dfrisby]

I found the service worthwhile. $10 per week per tech. 11 jeans, 11 shirts, 3 coveralls and 3 jackets each. I can't wash them for that price, and they are under warranty. Rip and they are replaced. My only complaint is that they don't have clothes in my small children's sizes and they don't do socks and underwear.

 

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[lmcca]

yeah, you arent going to like doing it yourself. if you cant afford that, you are doing something else wrong. just sayin.

[CAZM]

Most companies will charge the employees for the use of the uniforms. For example we charge the employee $7.50 every payday which is bi-weekly. None of my guys complain about it in fact they much rather pay $7.50 a paycheck then have to wash them themselves. I know my wife loves the fact she does not have to put my sometimes very dirty greasy uniforms in her washer.

[cleenyc99]

What would you do in the event they get their pay check and do not return for work? ie.. they simply quit without 2 weeks notice or even any notice at all?

 

 

Thanks,

 

Nick

The first check should be delayed a week. Your employees should be getting paid this week for the Hrs they put in last week. So if an employee walks out you are holding a weeks pay and that is where the uniform cost would come from if not returned. This is the same if you chose to use a uniform service or not.

 

Also remember these uniforms need to be maintained if you want the image maintained. I would rethink doing this yourself.

[mmotley]

Most companies will charge the employees for the use of the uniforms. For example we charge the employee $7.50 every payday which is bi-weekly. None of my guys complain about it in fact they much rather pay $7.50 a paycheck then have to wash them themselves. I know my wife loves the fact she does not have to put my sometimes very dirty greasy uniforms in her washer.

I don't know why I never thought to do this. My last 2 employers did the same thing. Charged me about $3.50 per week and I didn't mind at all.

[dfrisby]

I don't know why I never thought to do this. My last 2 employers did the same thing. Charged me about $3.50 per week and I didn't mind at all.

I thought a couple times about having my guys pay for the work clothes, but if $30 a week is gonna kill me, I'm doing something wrong. I charge for shop supplies on every invoice to cover such things. Their uniforms are as much or more a benefit to me as to them in that my shop appears more professional. My guys really appreciate the uniforms, and moral is higher. Worth every penny.

 

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[Jeff]

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[PAPShop]

We have a dress code, and the shirt are our t-shirts we sell. Each tech is given 4 shirts on hire, and given new ones upon anniversary dates. They are responsible for looking professional and wearing clean clothes each day.

 

In the back of my mind I am thinking of doing something different, so I am following this.

[carolinahigear]

We have a dress code, and the shirt are our t-shirts we sell. Each tech is given 4 shirts on hire, and given new ones upon anniversary dates. They are responsible for looking professional and wearing clean clothes each day.

 

In the back of my mind I am thinking of doing something different, so I am following this.

Having our associates looking professional and being clean should be a priority with every shop owner. As I said above, I have been providing uniforms for many years. Two of my techs wear white shirts with gray pinstripes, and three techs wear blue shirts with stripes. The techs with the blue shirts like the fact that they hide grease and dirt better, and the techs that wear white are cleaner workers that do lots of electrical, computer diagnostic and troubleshooting, A/C, and Timing Jobs, etc. We have been using this color scheme for 11 years.

 

Our uniform supplier also supplies us with shop towels, walk mats, and fender covers. He does a fantastic job of keeping our uniforms repaired and looking good. Some of my techs wear shorts in hot weather, and he supplies them, too. The only communication I have with him is paying him every Wednesday, because he knows I am not involved with the uniforms other than paying. **** I make sure that my "shop supplies" charges total enough monthly to cover our uniforms, bank card fees, and other expenses. ***

 

Like i say lots of times when I'm writing a check....."Somebody's gonna pay for it!!!"

 

Hi-Gear

[alfredauto]

I wash my own simply because the soap the companies use makes me itch. The starch or something. My tech washes his own too. I just buy 12 at a time from bluecollarworkwear or wherever every few years and they embroider them for me.

 

A good policy is to replace the uniforms before they get completely shot. I just retired my 7 year old set and everyone commented how nice the new uniform looks. Funny thing it's no different than the old one just not worn thin. Probably 3 years is the max professional life.

[Waynes Garage]

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[vbtoytech]

Shop supplied uniforms would be a nice perk.

 

At the Toyota dealership I was deducted ~$15 a month for Cintas uniform service.

 

At the Lexus dealership the deduction was over $20 a month for Cintas uniform service. That was over the line for me, so I bought my own uniforms and got the payroll deduction stopped. I prefer to wash at home anyway, due to sensitive skin.