Hooters Waitresses Sue Over Having to Buy Uniforms
Two waitresses from New York have filed a class action lawsuit in Brooklyn Federal Court against the risqué restaurant establishment for forcing them to buy and dry clean their skimpy uniforms without reimbursement.
The outfits which consist of orange hotpants, a tanktop, pantyhose and thick white socks costs less than $20 but under New York State labor law, an employer must supply its workers with uniforms if they are not regular street clothes.
Well the Hooters outfits are definitely not regular street clothes that's for sure!
Louis Pechman who represents the two women agrees: "I don't think that could confuse the Hooters uniform clothes as part of someone's ordinary wardrobe," Pechman said.
Pechman said the cost may be minimal - but the law is the law.
This is a good example of how important it is to know your rights as an employee. You can take your Employee Rights Quiz to see if you know your basic rights. You can also see what to do if you feel that your basic rights as an employee are being violated here. This will help you not only learn how to protect your rights, but also how to get results if you feel like your rights are being violated.
While this lawsuit serves as a reminder to us all about our employment rights, it is a little ironic.
NY Daily News reports: "The company's Web site adds that the Hooters Girl uniform also consists of "a smile," but there's apparently no charge for that.
The company had no comment when they were asked about the lawsuit.
Related Resources:
- Employees Rights 101 (Findlaw)
- Workplace Rights: True or False? (Findlaw)
- Law and the Workplace (Findlaw)
- Whistleblowing: Unfair Business Practices Act (provided by Navarette Law Firm)
- Workplace Discrimination (provided by Dolan Connly, P.C.)