OPM ISSUES FINAL REGULATIONS ON MAXIMUM UNIFORM ALLOWANCES

Washington, D.C. -- Federal employees who are required to wear a uniform at work will have some assistance due to new rules published by OPM that inform agency heads of procedures to increase the maximum allowance rate for the purchase of uniforms.

A uniform may include, but is not limited to, such items as shoes, boots, hats, shirts, slacks, skirts, or outerwear an employee is required to wear in performing his or her job.

When the cost of a basic uniform exceeds $400 a year, the head of each agency now will be able to establish one or more initial maximum uniform allowance rates greater than the governmentwide rate. Under previous regulations, agency heads could not pay for or furnish a uniform that exceeded $400 a year. Before an agency can set a higher initial maximum uniform allowance rate, the agency must publish in the Federal Register:

• a description and justification of the circumstances requiring a higher initial maximum uniform allowance rate;

• an estimate of the number of employees affected;

• the specific items required for the basic uniform and the average total uniform cost for the affected employees;

• the amount of the proposed higher initial maximum uniform allowance rate to be paid during the year the employee first becomes subject to the uniform requirement;

• the proposed effective date of the higher initial maximum uniform allowance rate; and

• the intent of the agency (if any) to divide the cost of a minimum basic uniform over two years if they desire.

The final rules will be published in the Federal Register on August 25, 1994.

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