Boss requires housekeepers to wear skin-tight pants and non-breathable shirt as part of work uniform, workers claim it's a health hazard: 'He refuses to listen to us because he thinks they look great'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jul 19, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Most of us don't really enjoy wearing uniforms. I, for one, wore a uniform for many years and hated almost every minute of it, for a few reasons. One, they're almost never something you would pick out for yourself. They're always weirdly formal or dated, and are never flattering on most body types, especially yours, for whatever reason. Two, you lose out on the chance to express yourself through your clothes. The garments you choose to put on your body are a huge part of how people perceive you. You should be able to control that to your advantage. Third, uniforms are usually uncomfortable. They're itchy, they're hot, and you want to take them off as soon as you're able. 

So it's understandable why we would rage against the uniforms that are often given to us. Sure, sometimes you have to wear a uniform for a job. That's just the way the world works. But what if that uniform is untenable?

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  • 01

    Can I refuse to wear my work uniform because it's uncomfortable and a health hazard?

    I work in housekeeping for a hotel chain. About 2 months ago we got new uniforms. Nothing wrong with the old ones but our boss decided we needed new ones.
    via u/JV-Shorty
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10530923008
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • That's what happened in this story, where a group of workers found that their uniform was completely unworkable for the summer months. But when they tried to complain to the higher-ups, they didn't get a sympathetic ear. Read on for the story to see what happened. 

  • 03
    The new uniforms are not just ugly, but impractical. The pants are skin tight. Think of leggings. The bottoms are very tight. Every time you kneel down they slide up but won't go down on its own so now you constantly have to pull them back down. I have trouble putting them on and taking them off
    via u/JV-Shorty
  • 04
    because i cant get them over my heels. I can't wear a bigger size because they dont have strings so i can't tighten them around the waist. They are also very thin. Our hotel is open, so the moment you step out of the room you're in the elements. In the winter this will become a problem. When we brought that up with our boss, he suggested to just wear another pair of pants underneath it. Not a great idea.
    via u/JV-Shorty
  • 05
    The biggest problem however are the shirts. They're not breathable nor sweat resistant. Last week we had a couple of days with high humidity. By the end of the shift we were all drenched in sweat. I was exhausted and felt sick despite drinking water like there
    via u/JV-Shorty
  • 06
    was no tomorrow. We brought this up with our boss. His idea was to just wear a shirt underneath and take off the uniform while we're in the room. This wont work. We constantly have to leave the rooms to get supplies. So now we have to take the uniform off and then put them back on, take them off and put them back on, ....
    via u/JV-Shorty
  • 07
    He refuses to listen to us because he thinks they look great and doesnt see a problem with them. While we are sweating like crazy, he sits in an a/c controlled office. So, can I refuse to wear this uniform for health reason?
    via u/JV-Shorty
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10530923776
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 09

    Commenters had some ideas on how they could go about this.

    Counther 1d ago • It sounds like the pants are actually too small, leaving you (and perhaps others) no choice but to wear a bigger size and fasten them in whatever way you can -- safety pins, a rope, duct tape, etc. I'm really curious what these wonderful things look like.
    via u/Counther
  • 10
    Rhueless 1d ago • Time for you to all wear the uniform really badly. Get shirts to wear under the uniform that are practical and ugly. Wear practical shorts that show up through the leggings. Make the uniforms a consistent fashion disaster. Use duct tape or suspenders to keep the leggings from slipping down.
    via u/Rhueless
  • 11
    They can make you wear uniforms but they can't make you wear them well. (Also apply for jobs that have a better uniform)
    via u/Rhueless
  • 12
    NotAtThese PricesB... • 1d ago Is boss man enjoying the view of the tight pants on someone?
    via u/NotAtThesePricesBaby
  • 13
    Evie_Croft 1d ago • Thissss omg, putting housekeeping staff in skin tight leggings is weird as f . What would the uniform be for a male housekeeper?
    via u/Evie_Croft
  • 14
    WorthyJellyfishODo... . 1d ago Discuss with coworkers and get everyone to do the changing in and out of uniform, just very slowly. What used to take you an hour now takes an hour and a half, complain to the boss
    via u/WorthyJellyfishODoom
  • 15
    that having to put on the uniform again takes too long and request to get an exemption (everyone should do this) with enough increase in wage costs the boss will care.
    via u/WorthyJellyfishODoom
  • 16
    Ok-Grape-3628 · 1d ago • Are there any men on the housecleaning team? Do they have to wear it? All uniform should have unisex options, ask for the men's version.
    via u/Ok-Grape-3628
  • 17
    Thin_Rip8995 · 1d ago . yes—if it's affecting your health, you absolutely can and should push back this isn't about fashion it's about safety heat exhaustion, restricted movement, and physical strain aren't "discomfort". they're liability
    via u/Thin_Rip8995
  • 18
    start documenting everything: • dates of incidents • how it impacts your work • any symptoms (fatigue, overheating, etc) • coworkers who feel the same then submit a written complaint to HR or higher management-not just your boss cite health and safety concerns, not just preference
    via u/Thin_Rip8995
  • 19
    if they blow it off, you escalate: • OSHA (if in the US) • labor board in your region • anonymous tip if needed you're not being difficult you're refusing to be disposable
    via u/Thin_Rip8995y
  • 20
    Thanatosl1 · 1d ago Tell your boss to put the uniform on and spend the day cleaning and see how he likes it.
    via u/Thanatosl1
  • 21
    Lackadaisicly 1d ago . You cannot refuse, but you can raise a complaint with the labor board for being forced to wear revealing clothing when that was not the case when you started.
    via u/Lackadaisicly
  • 22
    Unfair_Bluejay_9687 1d ago • Get everyone together and refuse to wear them. What's he going to do??? Fire everyone??? Learn the power of working together to achieve an amicable solution to the problem. The problem here is an a hat manager. The best part about this is the fact that managers get fired all the time. When's the last time you saw a team get fired??
    via u/Unfair_Bluejay_9687
  • 23
    Star_BurstPS4 · 1d ago Everyone would need to work as a team here and not wear the uniforms if you all have the old ones wear them everyone of you must do this show the boss what's what either buy a new uniform that fits the employees needs or
    via u/Star_BurstPS4
  • 24
    deal with the old ones and if he refuses after everyone of you does this then you all as a group need to walk out and go on strike you do not need a union to do this things change if everyone can get on the same page but if it's only a few of you nothing will ever
    via u/Star_BurstPS4
  • 25
    change. As for not wearing it unless it's an employee wide effort all it's gonna do is get one or two of you fired I'm sure like the rest of us you live in an at will location meaning you can be fired for any reason then again I can't be sure as I don't know where you live.
    via u/Star_BurstPS4
  • 26
    soupcook1 1d ago You are free to quit...that will teach them and you can wear comfortable clothes. I wen through this with the requirement to where arc flash rated uniforms. The sense of employee entitlement is unbelievable to me.
    via u/soupcook1
  • 27
    Acrobatic_Motor9... • 22h ago Ask your boss to wear the uniform and shadow you. Your boss likely doesn't know any better or won't want to admit they wasted money on the new uniforms.
    via u/Acrobatic_Motor9926
  • 28
    Catinthefirelight • 1d ago Do you have a union? If you don't, consider organizing your fellow housekeepers to join one. I wish I had more immediate advice for you, this sounds awful and uncomfortable.
    via u/Catinthefirelight

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boss antiwork workplace-stories uniforms toxic-workplace job uniform bosses work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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