Hooters is one of the rare establishments where the workers' uniforms are more famous than the food. In some states, employees are required to cover the bill for their orange outfits, but New York isn't one of those places. That's why two New York women are suing Hooters for forcing them to buy their own work wardrobes.
Gina Rosati and Amy Frederick say Hooters required them to buy the getup, and their lawyer says it's against state law to make employees purchase anything other than street clothes. The total for each uniform is $19.45, broken down below. What do you think; should the ladies be responsible for the job-related expenses?
- $5.45 for orange hot pants
- $6 for the Hooters embellished tank top
- $3.25 for a pouch
- $2.50 for "suntan" pantyhose
- $2.25 for thick white socks
Source: Getty
Patrizia Pepe
Diesel
Marni
who cares?
1if they have to wear it, the company should buy it.
2but, i should add, they should only get a certain number of uniforms in a time span. if you keep having to buy new stuff, because you ruin everything, you should have to pay for it
3No, it's illegal.
Is that a real Hooter's waitress in the pic?? She's pretty, but I thought a Hooter's waitress would need to be more well-endowed?
Just thinking out loud.
4Ha, GlowingMoon, I was thinking the same thing...she doesn't have the huge boobs that most of the waitresses have. Hooters should pay for the uniform, considering it's their policy that the workers dress that way. The lab I work in doesn't REQUIRE that I wear scrubs, so they don't reimburse me for them, but since I choose to wear them, I pay for them.
5paying for a hooters uniform is no different than having to buy a suit. hooters requires their employees to wear that uniform while my job requires me to wear a suit with nylons and closed toed shoes. As a working adult who chose my profession I don't expect my company to have to pay for my outfits. If they worked for the cheesecake factory would they expect that company to pay for their black shirts, pants, and shoes? it's just another frivolous lawsuit.
6Like the law says, Hooters should pay for anything with their logo on it, but I suppose the girls should have to pay for the pantyhose and socks since those are technically street clothes.
7My first job was at Ben and Jerry's and I had to purchase my B&J Tshirt. After that I worked retail and my entire outfit had to be from that store. As long as the employee is paying cost for the outfit and the employer is not making money I believe the employee should pay.
Also, if this rules in the favor of the hooters employees will that mean all companies will be sued and have to pay back past employees?
8i had a friend who worked at ruby's diner here in so cal, and they made her pay for her uniform. this was maybe 7 years ago, though, i don't know if the rules changed.
i don't think this is any different than me buying my own work clothes, which are much more expensive, btw. i WISH i could just pay $20 for my work clothes!
9Why are they complaining? That is so inexpensive!! I worked for a pool company that took uniform costs out of their employee's first paychek. Bathing suits, sweatshirts, tshirts shorts. . .it ads up to $80+ quickly.
10Those uniforms are totally gross. When would you ever want to be seen in that outfit outside of a job at Hooters? Or in a a job anywhere, for that matter? No one should be paying for them.
11If the company requires an uniform with a logo, the employer should pay for it. I wish I could get work to pay for my clothes but I wear "street" clothes.
12pepper, you're actually not allowed to wear the uniform outside of work. it's in the contract you have to sign.
*no, i never worked there, but i was recruited once and as a poor college student, def. looked into it.
13Quite frankly, I earned so much money in tips there that I could have cared less about shelling out for a couple of pair of shorts and a couple of pair of tanktops. The thing that really hurt were the hose... I would get runs in them all the time from the rough pine tables and walls. I remember them being $5 a pop though (I almost bought a pair a shift).
14Is this seriously a topic of discussion??
15This lawsuit should be thrown out and they should have to pay for wasting tax payer money!
16That's nothing to complain about... In Canada, Hooters girls pay for their uniforms and they pay a lot more! The nylons alone are $5, the shorts and shirts are like $15 or $20. Plus they have to buy black shorts & shirts for Fridays & Saturdays, and $45 football jerseys for NFL games.
I work at a lounge where our uniform shirts range from $15-30 and it's never been an issue, I think these girls should stfu and work somewhere else!
17I agree it's a frivolous lawsuit. If they don't like paying for their unforms apply elsewhere. If they had to buy street clothes for work the outfit would cost more than 2o bucks.
18I also agree w/ Jennibean!
19In my experience, most places that serve food and have a uniform make you buy your own uniform. Yes, it's ridiculous, but what are you gonna do?
In this case, if it's against NY law, then they shouldn't be buying their own uniforms. Suing Hooters over $20 is dumb though. They could have easily worked this out.
20I agree...
"This lawsuit should be thrown out and they should have to pay for wasting tax payer money!"
21I agree with Jennibean5 also. Waste of taxpayer money.
22No way! Nobody should have to pay for their work uniform!
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