Work Clothing Allowance - Pls help!

Goochi_2

Hello All,

My employer came up wih the idea that they would pay me allowance towards to my work clothing.
The only problem is that they want me to come up with 2 options so they could choose but I have no idea what kind of number I should come up with!
I'm working as a conference centre manager in east London and as my salary is under £20k they want to help me this way rather than giving me a payrise....

Thanks for your advices in advance.

Goochi

Angel1978_2

Wow... that's quite difficult in thinking about it.

You need a suit for every day as a manager. Also a blouse for every day. And a pair of shoes that will go with each suit. Maybe get some quotes on some decent suits and put these up.

Your first option could be:

Give me cash/vouchers for this company all in one go for the whole year,

The second could be:

Review suits 6 monthly, so maybe 3 suits now and then another 3/4 in 6 months time allowing them to spread the cost.

But i'd certainly try to allow yourself for 7 new suits and sets of shoes. Especially if you're not getting a pay rise out of it. Next do quite reasonable priced suits. So you could show them some of those so it doesn't look like you're taking the mick too much and going for say 'Gucci' or something! *pun intended*

pebblespop

i would say a new suit is £100 from next, top £30, shoes £40.

multiply this by the number of each items you will need and i would expect these to be renewed twice a year.

personally i would rather have the cash than a clothing allowance if that is an option

thumbelina

Sounds a bit of a con to me. I notice that your employer only says "an allowance towards" ie a proportion of the cost, presumably, and who knows what proportion? Sounds as if (s)he's trying to get out of giving a fair wage rise. And I bet there's a tax incentive in this route for the employer too.
If your employer wants you to wear something which you wouldn't buy for yourself ordinarily, then (s)he should pay the full amount.
I suggest your two options should be i) the full price of a couple of mid-market outfits that you would be happy with, priced at Next, as already suggested, or Marks and Spencer, or John Lewis ie mid-market - no-one could accuse you of being extravagant ii) a couple of much more expensive outfits (see net-a-porter online). Chances are your boss will be put off by the designer versions that (s)he will be happy to pay the cheaper amount.

Another idea - can you find out what make clothes your bosses wear? You should have the right to go for similar standards.

flea72

usually, if supplying uniform (in a clean environment) then most employers would provide one, maybe two jackets, two skirts or trousers, and 3 tops - depending on quality, you would expect these to last a year - they dont normally provide shoes

they may want to use a company that provides workwear (although these companies tend to specialise in polyester!), rather than shopping on the highstreet (my employer said it was easier for tax reasons, but i dont know why)

Flea

LizD_2

You may still be liable for tax on this as I suspect it would work in the same way as mileage allowance for a car.

flea72

uniform isnt a benefit in kind, its a necessity to do the job, so you wont be taxed on it

however, if you have to wash the uniform at home, you can claim a tax allowance for this

Flea

mrkbrrws

I don't get the impression that it's uniform we're talking about, just "ordinary" work clothing.

If the employer gives you an allowance to buy "ordinary clothes" that would be taxable. You wouldn't be able to claim a deduction for the cost because it is not wholly and exclusively for the purpose of work.

Goochi_2

Thanks guys for the advice. I am still not sure why they decided to give me this allowance but I won't say no if they want to do so.
I will do a little search here and there and see what 3 suits, tops and pair of shoes would cost in Next and M&S or John Lewis and give them those figures let see what they say.
Thanks a lot again

flea72

mrkbrrws wrote: »

I don't get the impression that it's uniform we're talking about, just "ordinary" work clothing.

If the employer gives you an allowance to buy "ordinary clothes" that would be taxable. You wouldn't be able to claim a deduction for the cost because it is not wholly and exclusively for the purpose of work.

i dont get the impression that the employer is thinking these will be worn, for any situation other than work - seeing as they are offering to pay for 'work clothing'

Flea

mrkbrrws

The employer's intention wouldn't matter if they are ordinary clothes which serve no specific work purpose. They are not wholly and exclusively for work as they also have the purpose of warmth and decency.