Labor law: put on work clothes?

The obligations of the employee with regard to putting on work clothing differ depending on whether it is protective clothing, the wearing of which is due to the Employment Law is regulated, or whether it is clothing that the employer has provided.

Labor law in the field of protective clothing

• In some professions, the Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employees to wear protective clothing in order to prevent dangers that may arise in everyday working life.
• The occupational groups affected primarily include workers in the craft and medical sectors. In these cases, work clothing also includes helmets, glasses and respirators.
• If it is a legal requirement to put on work clothes, you as an employee are also obliged to do so, otherwise your health insurance company can refuse certain benefits in the event of a claim.
• In this case, your employer must provide the work clothes free of charge. According to labor law, employees have the option of refusing to work if protective clothing is not provided.
  instagram viewer


Difference between works council and trade union - explanation

Works councils and unions contribute in different ways to ensuring that ...

• Should you as an employee injure yourself due to missing or inadequate protective clothing, although this is provided for by law, you are entitled to compensation from the Employer.

Put on normal work clothes 

• As an employee, you are obliged to wear normal work clothes if the Employers want their employees to appear uniformly and this also contractually is fixed.
• According to labor law, the employer can always make a contribution towards the cost of the work clothing Demand from you if you could in principle also wear the clothes outside of the workplace.
• The cost sharing must be in a healthy proportion to your wages, otherwise it is illegal.