Columbia Uniform clothing allowance and personal protective equipment ordinance (§ 19-107)

(a) Employees required to wear uniform clothing, specifically those individuals readily visible to the general public, will be provided with such clothing allocations as deemed appropriate by the department head. If allocations are provided, the employee shall be required to wear the uniform clothing, to maintain the garments in a clean and maintained fashion, and to return the full allocation of garments upon separation from city service (or be docked the fair value of missing articles from the final paycheck). The city shall replace uniform clothing damaged through natural wear on the job, but not due to negligence by the employee. The employee shall wear uniform clothing only en route to and from work and while on duty, and police and fire personnel shall be subject to specific departmental policies concerning clothing allotments and/or allowances. Uniformed police officers will have uniforms dry cleaned at city expense within limits of the annual department budget allocation for such purpose. Upon the expiration of available funds, the individual employee will be responsible for dry cleaning of the uniforms. Rules and procedures for dry cleaning of uniforms by the city may be established by the police chief, and when established must be followed by the employee. Classified commissioned police assigned to plain clothes operations, as specified and defined by the police chief, shall be eligible to receive additional compensation of nine hundred sixteen dollars ($916.00) per fiscal year to purchase the required clothes. The compensation shall be paid on the second payroll check of each quarter in the amount of two hundred twenty-nine dollars ($229.00). To be eligible to receive a quarterly compensation payment, the employee must be employed on the first day of the quarter. If the employee is employed by the city after the first day of the quarter, the employee will receive the compensation beginning with the subsequent quarter.

(b) An employee required to wear standard dark blue denim jeans on the job shall be eligible to receive additional compensation in the amount of three hundred thirty-six dollars ($336.00) per fiscal year for the purchase of jeans. The compensation will be paid on the second payroll check of each quarter in the amount of eighty-four dollars ($84.00). To be eligible to receive a quarterly jean compensation payment, the employee must be employed on the first day of the quarter. If the employee is employed by the city after the first day of the quarter, the employee will receive the compensation beginning with the subsequent quarter.

(c) Employees represented by Laborers' International Union of North America, Local 955 whose job duties require them to work outdoors or in unheated areas in the winter shall be eligible to receive additional compensation for the cost of winter outerwear of fifty dollars ($50.00) per fiscal year. The compensation shall be paid on the second payroll check of each quarter in the amount of twelve dollars and fifty cents ($12.50). To be eligible to receive a quarterly winter outerwear compensation payment, the employee must be employed on the first day of the quarter. If the employee is employed by the city after the first day of the quarter, the employee will receive the compensation beginning with the subsequent quarter.

(d) Personal protective gear. Department heads may, at their discretion, require that employees wear safety boots and glasses which meet departmental safety standards (as defined by the department head and coordinated with the director). When additional protective footwear is required, employees shall be eligible to receive additional compensation of one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175.00) per fiscal year.

Department heads may likewise establish policies concerning needed eye protection. When additional protective eye protection is required, employees shall be eligible to receive additional compensation of up to a maximum of fifty dollars ($50.00) per fiscal year. The compensation shall be paid on the second payroll check of each quarter in the amount of forty-three dollars and seventy-five cents ($43.75) for footwear and twelve dollars and fifty cents ($12.50) for eye protection. To be eligible to receive either personal protective gear compensation payment, the employee must be employed on the first day of the quarter. If the employee is employed by the city after the first day of the quarter, the employee will receive the compensation beginning with the subsequent quarter.

(e) If department heads elect to require any of the above equipment or clothing as a condition of employment depending on the needs of their respective operations, employees shall be subject to discipline for any failure to meet the requirements.