Employees have expressed an interest in personal apparel maintenance, rather than wearing standard stock issued periodically by operating units that sometimes vary in size and cleaning quality. The employee becomes the owner of the uniform and is responsible for its personal maintenance. While the new option may be practical in some situations, it is understood that this practice may not be hygienically practical in all work areas of the University. For example, biological or physical contaminants in the workplace could make personal laundering inappropriate. The costs of acquiring uniforms will be borne by the departmental budget.
Uniforms become the personal property of the employee.
For each employing department, the method selected for furnishing and maintaining uniforms will be the method which results in the lowest cost consistent with uniform quality, cleaning standards, and service. Replacement schedules and replacement needs of only standard-issue uniforms and their related costs will be the responsibility of the department. The employer may choose uniforms from a variety of stock wearing apparel available through the contract vendors. All arrangements for acquiring and maintaining uniforms will be made by the Purchasing Department. Procedures may be developed at the departmental level for implementation of one of the above options, but must be compatible with the provisions of the purchase, rental or laundry contracts.