If a poor person has to wear a uniform in order to survive, how is this a choice? Why are employers fascist?

Question

Why should McDonalds, BurgerKing, etc. be allowed to force poor people to wear uniforms? What is the legal precedent?

Answer 1

uuhhh... it is their company.... they have the right to create the image they want for their company. Uniforms are worn in many different career positions, not just at fast food restaurants. The corporate world is required to wear uniforms too, in the form a a suit and tie, hotel employee's, them park employee, and so on. It doesn't make employers fascists... you certainly don't have to take that job.

Answer 2

If everyone were allowed to wear whatever they wanted at work (in the types of places you listed), how would you know who worked there? Would the argument then shift from the oppression of a uniform to the degradation of name tags? It is not a plot against poor people. Employers can make you wear whatever they want, within reason, and within certain legal restrictions regarding how those items are issued or purchased. If you don't want to wear a uniform, take some of that government-subsidized education money and go get a degree. If you are working for minimum wage, the uniform is not the problem. We are each handed challenges in life, and how we overcome those challenges is the true test of our character. If you don't like your place in life, do something about it. You obviously have access to a computer and have the time to use it for pleasure. Use that time to better yourself and you will improve your life.

Answer 3

I believe the purpose of the work uniform is that without one a dress code has to be made, and then once that's in place then people are expected to follow it-it is completly legal, and most of the time the company provides the uniforms...it's a measure of professionalism, and if people don't like to wear uniforms then there are plenty of jobs out there that don't require them. Personally, if I had to work at McDonald's or the such, I would rather mess up a uniform than mess up my own clothing with grease, ketchup and mustard!

Answer 4

Fascist ? Oh Christ, what are they teaching in school today !?!?! Research under Labor Law (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode29/usc_sup_01_29.html)

What is YOUR justification for these workers NOT wearing a uniform ?? Technically, unless there is a PROSCRIPTION or PROHIBITION, an owner can do as they chose !! And if you wish to take a job, you accept the rules and regulations of the employer (rules MUST be posted under Fair Labor Standards Act)!!

A quick check of US Code (annotated) Article 29 doesn't mention a "work-uniform"... though Chapter 15 (OSHA) covers safety-equipment. I would imagine further information would fall under the STATE employment laws.

As best as I recall, an employer is either required to provide uniforms... or provide a modest allowance for their purchase.

I've worn a uniform of one sort or another since age 16 in 1980: Red-shorts & white tank as a lifeguard; suit jacket & tie at Macy's and as a telephone company manager, blue coveralls and dark boots as a stage-hand; the US Navy Uniform (15 years); a company polo-shirt and jeans as a telephone engineer; sports-coat and khakis as a high-school teacher.

Answer 5

Well the idea is that by wearing their uniform you are a member of their team, it shows you are an employee and probably it's a good idea for dealing with food, sanitary reasons to wear something else other than your daily clothes so if you spill something you can take it off.

I never liked uniforms, I used to work at a bank and we had clothing sets we had to buy in order to work there they were itchy nylon **** that bothered my skin and you had 5 basic outfits you could mix and match, they looked nice but sure didn't feel good to the skin. I survived it and then later worked as a pharmacy asst at Rite Aid and had to wear the customary pharmacy garb, the white overcoat etc, it wasn't too bad, they were not as strict as the bank, if you were hot and took the thing off just wearing your name tag was acceptable.

Answer 6

It's called "conditions of employment". The employer has the right to delineate what the employee dress code is. If they require a uniform, and supply the uniform, the condition of employment is that the employee wear the uniform during working hours.

Because, you see, it is the employer who "owns" the job, and applying for the job and accepting the job are completely voluntary, and the employee usually signs forms accepting the conditions of his/her employment.

Answer 7

Why does someone have to wear a tie or skirt to work. All businesswear is a uniform to some degree. It's something we all do, rich or poor, in order to establish a visual notion that we are competent employees. Why don't you work on the fact that we are a visual society first?

Answer 8

The employer has the right to run their business with certain guidelines and rules that you as an employee either agree to do or find a different employer.
For a further explanation about employee/employer rules, call your local chapter of the ACLU.

Answer 9

You have no idea what a fascist is.. don't use words you don't understand.... and FYI.... these places supply the uniforms or they take a very small portion out of the employees paychecks to cover the cost of uniforms.

Answer 10

Is anyone forcing the employees to work at McDonald's?