Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Kentucky

employee rights

I work for a company that requires their employees to wear certain uniforms. When I first started with this company, they provided the uniforms and now they are

no longer leasing uniforms and informing us that we now have to pay for the uniform ourselves. Is this legal for them to do or are they trying to just collect monies from their employees? Can the employees take a stand and not pay for the uniforms? I am in the state of Kentucky. Any help from anyone who knows the answer to this question, would be greatly appreciated.


Asked on 1/23/09, 9:18 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Thomas McAdam Thomas A. McAdam, III, Attorney

Re: employee rights

It is not possible to give you a clear legal answer to your inquiry without a more detailed evaluation of the facts of your case. Several questions are presented:

1. Is your employment covered by any union collective bargaining agreement?

2. Are you covered by any civil service regulations?

Basically speaking, Kentucky is what is known as an "at will employment state." This means that your employer can fire you for no reason at all, or for any reason which is otherwise not illegal (such as racial, religious, gender discrimination, etc.).

Your employer can require a work uniform, and is not legally required to pay for it. Your choice is to comply or quit.

You should not take any action, based upon my advice, without consulting an attorney and explaining all the facts to him. You are best advised to seek the services of a competent Kentucky attorney. You can telephone your local bar association for a referral, or can find a good lawyer on-line at the Kentucky Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service:

http://www.kybar.org/Default.aspx?tabid=291

Good luck!

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Answered on 1/23/09, 3:44 pm


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