Steel Toecaps(Trainers) + Dress code

ToejaM

ToejaM

ToejaM

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I bought these when working at a different place entirely and the manager there was fine with them and obviously it was a completely different type of store so irrelevant but these are what I am using.

Unfortunately I now work in a supermarket, I really am grateful for a job, mortgage, baby, food, utilities.. apparently they're not free and I hate being out of work so its win win!. Currently going through recruitment process with the Army and can't wait to be gone from here.

When I started here I used my own shoes and wrecked them within 2 weeks as they were going out/smart shoes (didnt like them very much and figured why spend money when I have shoes already!) they were just for looks but they ruined my feet, so I decided to wear my trainer/toecaps and see if anything was ever said then I'd go get some proper ones.

A few times I've been stopped by random managers, one asking where I got them from and was fine, think they wanted a pair, another stopped me for wearing trainers but was fine once they knew they were toecaps just told me to change the laces to black ones.

Now.. on Sunday, I was pulled up by another manager, who now I think about it has actually asked me about them before and was fine once I said they were toecaps but I dont think they remember this. They told me that by the next shift I should have gone and bought a new pair of shoes or I'd be sent home, without pay. A little annoying after wearing them for over a year without any problems, so I said that I couldnt afford it so this person gave me until Friday (payday) to get some or again would be going home without pay. So I said I doubt very much I'd be able to afford anything then either, wanted to buy myself some time to look into if I'm supposed to have steel toecaps or not for the job and if so if they're meant to be provided. Dont have the hand book to hand so I'll grab one tomorrow when I'm in.

I can afford it but I just didnt appreciate the way this was done (infront of another staff member on the shop floor) and the small time frame I was given after wearing them for so long without a problem. Plus it was early and I was cranky :D

As a side note and not sure if its relevant but a new staff member had the wrong shoes on one day last week which they've been wearing for the past 8 weeks since they started and as there was an inspection visit so had a new pair of shoes bought for them and isnt expected to pay for them.

I've had a little google around and I can't find anything definitive on supermarkets, I do work in the warehouse quite a bit and I do lift things that if I dropped it would probably break something. Aswell as pulling cages and catching the back of your ankle is quite unpleasant!

Tempted to go and speak to the store manager and see what he says to me about the shoes before I do anything but would be nice to know if I actually need steel toecaps and if they're meant to be provided or not. Not that I'd wear them if they're likely to be anything previous places use.

I'm not quite sure how much longer I'm going to be there, all dependant on the Army and my fitness but certainly past this Friday so I think I maybe stuck with getting a new pair of shoes so expect a spec me some awesomely comfy smart steelys soon!

TL : DR
Where do I stand with the "going home without pay" bit? (I'm thinking they can send me home under the dress code, if its in the contract/hand book) but not sure about the without pay?)
Do I need steel toe caps for working in a supermarket as I regularly work in the warehouse and should this be provided for me?
 
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What supermarket, and where do you work?

ASDA give the warehouse/home shopping guys free boots. Pretty sure that all the other supermarkets would do (health and safety). However, if you're just on the shop floor then they probably aren't suitable. Though I do not know why you'd need steel toe caps for putting grapes on a shelf...
 
Ask to read a copy of their dress code for staff, and also the risk assessments for the tasks that you carry out.

Or just, you know, get some other shoes.
 
The Halk said:
If a risk assessment says that steel toe capped boots are required, then by law they must be provided free of charge.
Click to expand...

Pretty certain it's exactly this. My first job in a warehouse I was provided with toecaps.

Besides how can they rely on employees to go and buy them. For a start they're quite expensive.
 
If you work on the shop floor then I would say those boots are way over the top and I can see why you've been pulled up. I work at ASDA on the shop floor and we've been pulled up over lesser things such as creases in trousers.

You can get a pair of shoes for a tenner from lots of places, I know ASDA sell subsidised work shoes for staff for £12.50. Surely it's not too much?
 
If you have a duel role then state that to the manager and as said above they should issue you with suitable shoes. Asda to tend to **** things up quite a bit to be honest. A friend of mine has some health issues and sometimes he cant talk properly. He went to an interview on cruches becuase he had recently broken both of his legs which due to his illness is a regular occurance. They told him he could have a job and when he went to the induction they wanted him to lift bags of chips and frozen stuff out of the freezer. My friend was like dude I got two ****ing broken legs.
 
I dont want to mention names, just in case ;)

Yeah, grapes themselves you wouldnt need them for but the containers they come in are quite heavy and they live in the warehouse until needed :P Though I don't deal with that bit of the store but the principle is the same ;)

I dont exclusively work in the warehouse but as someone who pulls in and works the delivery I'm in the warehouse for quite a good chunk of time and if anything I do more lifting on the shop floor than in the warehouse. I just thought the warehouse bit was what was important going by what I've been told from other people who say in their jobs (not supermarkets) that if they go in the warehouse at all theyre meant to wear steel toecaps and are expected (but probably dont) to change if needs be

Cheers Halk, thats good even if I do have to buy some I technically dont lose out! I did think it was to do with risk assessment, is that done per store or per type of store? Anywhere I can find out what status there is on my store regarding this?

I wouldnt say that they are expensive.. you can get some cheap ones, the ones I was given before from another place apparently cost £6 to make lol. You can get some for around 20-30 but they're probably rubbish which is why I paid for some better ones though the ones I linked are now £10 more expensive, I also got discount on them as I did work for Screwfix so have some friends still working there :)
 
To respond to your tl;dr edit... if you are not required to wear steel toe capped boots then you do need to comply with their dress code, which would mean wearing black shoes if that's what they stipulate.

However if you drop something on your foot and their dress code says no steel toe capped boots.. then you've got a claim. I would be surprised if they didn't spec them, especially as your role is in the warehouse. It has to be one way or the other though. If they require you to wear safety boots they must supply them free of charge.
 
The place i work at requires Steelies to be worn (even though im office based) as it is a site rule.

They are provided for free, or if we wish to buy our own (comfier) ones then we are given £14-odd towards the cost.
 
Trousers over them won't look too bad! I'd not bat an eyelid to be fair. I hated having to wear smart shoes at work. I think I got through 3 pairs of Base shoes in a year :(
 
A few more people working in supermarkets here than I thought :)

When I'm wearing those toecaps, you don't see much of them at all.. like any other trainers covered with mc hammer size trousers. Looks wise you really dont notice with black laces in. Dont get me started on uniform, I started in an XL as thats what I've always bought.. they gave me a tent. It takes roughly 3 months to get new uniform.. I tried L and M and they were still way to big (well M was ok until recently but with the running.. I currently wear a 'S' which fits me like my L/XL tops (depends on store :P) that I wear outside of work. I've been there for over a year and only had my current S sized top for two months! heh

With the amount of people that dont wear toecaps I dont think they think that we need them so I need to check what is officially said I guess. I wouldnt want to drop anything that I work with on my feet.

I'm a little more conscious of it as I run a lot and so close to army selection I dont want to risk anything physical but also with the job I dont want to risk the job either!

Roman: They give you boots in the Army ;) and aye what Halk said.. its more a question of what/who is right here.. if I'm in the wrong, fine I'll hold my hands up and sort it out but if they're threatening to send me home without pay over something they should be providing then we have a problem :) Also funny if they send me home without pay, when I say I cant afford them.. makes me laugh as much as charging you for going over your limit with the bank for something you couldnt afford that they allowed to happen instead of bouncing it!

Jonny: For me I dont mind, its just what I had to hand.. uh, foot so its what I'm wearing if I'd have known I'd need smarter shoes for the next job I'd have bought them instead heh and no customers have ever commented.. at least not to me about them, or to managers as I'm sure I would have heard about it sooner
 
if you work in the warehouse a risk assessment would have been done and if there is heavy things anywhere around you it will say you require steel or composite toe caps , PPE should be provided by the employer.

next time this manager gives you jip ask to speak to his manager or to the stores health and safety manager. you could potentially make a great deal of fuss about this depending how arsey you want to get . eg dropping something on your toes and making it be investigated , everyone will be needing boots bought after that.

if you dont feel safe doing a job and theres even a remotely reasonable reason for this then they cannot make you do it without providing you with adequate protection and training

tbh i would have spoke to the store manager about this ages ago , assistant managers are idiots
 
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The supermarket I work at mate are arsey about stuff like that, if it has tags or "bright" outlining they don't want to see it then again when providing it there quite amusing as before I get my hands on it its usually given to a new starter...

Stick with those though, if asked just say you should provide me with them assuming your on the shop floor youll be truck trained at least which requires them :) I get away with alsorts though because in reality who looks at shoes? lol I wear from airwalks to trainers and they don't care as usual never see the boss man so not a problem :D

It depends on your roll as to wether or not you get them for free in a supermarket, stuff like trainers mind you anything classed as HR isnt required to wear them, warehouse/shopfloor (say if you pull a roller) you should have them bought for you, if your truck trained or pulling the "pallet" things then yes by law they should give them you :).
 
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