If the employer requires an employee to wear a uniform, the cost and maintenance of the uniform is considered to be for the benefit of the business. Therefore, if the employer requires the employee to pay for the uniform or cleaning of the uniform (even rental uniforms), the employer can only deduct down to the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for the first 40 hours in a workweek for uniforms.
The employer cannot by deducting such costs reduce the employee’s wage below minimum wage. This is true whether a payroll deduction is being made
or the employee is paying out-of-pocket.