3.1 Selection
3.1.1 Clothing shall be selected to ensure that it is hazard free, based as much as possible on comfort, serviceability and ease of care. Natural fabrics, natural fabric blends and fabrics not requiring dry‑cleaning are the preferred choice.
3.1.2 When departments and agencies are reviewing their uniform policy, and the current or planned uniform requires dry‑cleaning, employee representatives, at the local, regional or national level, as appropriate, shall assist in the selection of the uniforms.
3.1.3 Uniforms that require dry-cleaning shall only be selected when easy-care uniforms are clearly unsuitable, the Clothing Advisor agrees, and the employee representative has been fully informed. If the employer requires employees to have, wear and maintain a dress uniform (i.e. ceremonial clothing or number 1 dress) that can only be dry-cleaned, the employer must ensure full payment of the cleaning cost.
3.1.4 Care labels, as designated by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, should be attached to each new item of clothing.
3.1.5 Normally, it will be advantageous to have clothing for identification manufactured from all‑season fabric, requiring minimum care. Commercially available items in standard sizes are more economical than custom-tailored special designs.
3.1.6 In events where employees have allergies to the fabric and/or cleaning products, the employer will consider alternatives to the uniform and will accommodate any request from employees. Any request for accommodation to the uniform will not be denied unless it can be demonstrated that it will impose an undue hardship on the employer.
3.2 Sun protection
3.2.1 Sun protection shall be made available to employees who wear uniforms outdoors in summer. This means the provision of summer-weight long pants and summer-weight long-sleeved shirts for sun protection in addition to skirts, shorts and short‑sleeved shirts and hats designed to protect from sun rays.
3.2.2 Clothing shall be selected to minimize total body heat burden. Employees shall have the option of choosing, from the clothing provided, the combination they prefer. Sun protection provisions shall be in compliance with the Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing Directive.
3.3 Quantities
3.3.1 The quantity of each commodity to be provided initially to each employee shall be based on conditions of wear and tear and the expected wear‑life of each commodity.
3.4 Replacement
3.4.1 Replacement items of clothing shall be issued free of charge when existing items are no longer serviceable.
3.4.2 The employer will replace any clothing that is lost unless it can be demonstrated by the employer that the employee was unreasonably negligent.
3.5 Personal clothing
3.5.1 Personal clothing does not include items which are designated as essential for identification within the context of this directive. Employees will normally be expected to provide, wear and maintain personal clothing as appropriate and necessary for their duties.
3.5.2 In special circumstances departments may make arrangements for employees to purchase reasonable amounts of personal clothing for use while on duty.
3.5.3 Items of personal clothing may be made available for employees to purchase when:
- the department is providing clothing and employees are responsible for wearing items of personal clothing that foster neatness and uniform appearance and complement clothing which is provided;
- employees request items of personal clothing that are not essential for identification, but the department considers that it would be beneficial, in order to improve the general appearance and comfort of employees while on duty; and/or
- employees desire additional items of clothing, over and above the amount of authorized issue.
3.5.4 Such a service will be provided only when there are positive assurances that employees will purchase and use any items of personal clothing that are made available under this arrangement.
3.5.5 Departments may purchase through PSPC a number of items at cost for resale to employees. These may include, but shall not be restricted to:
- headgear,
- jacket, blazer and windbreaker,
- trousers (work pants) and skirt,
- shirt or sweater,
- tie,
- socks,
- gloves or mitts,
- topcoat or other similar type of raincoat,
- parka (non‑distinctive),
- belt,
- scarf,
- footwear, and/or
- maternity clothing.
3.6 Clothing allowance
3.6.1 The Treasury Board prefers the direct issue of clothing to the payment of clothing allowances. However, Treasury Board does not wish to preclude payment of such allowances in cases where the practice is established or the economy of introducing a new allowance can be clearly demonstrated.
3.6.2 No new allowances or changes in existing allowances shall be introduced without the prior authorization of the Treasury Board.
3.6.3 No allowances shall be paid for:
- repair, cleaning, pressing and laundering; or
- personal clothing.