[UPDATE] r/CivilEngineering Work Boot Allowance Survey Results
imgur.com/a/Kpi7uUsPosted Jun 1, 2018, 2:20 PM UTC
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imgur.com
I apologize for the lateness of this results post.... been busy at work. My company did start a policy of paying for a portion of work boots. Not sure if my complaining and the results of this survey had an effect on getting that implemented, but I would like to think so.
Thanks to all who responded.
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is it worldwide participants?
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I had just posted it to this sub, and it looked like one person mentioned they were in the UK. I'm in the US and would assume most are as well.
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I’m surprised this is even a thing. In the UK, your employer has to provide you safety equipment by law. If they buy you a £30 pair of boots and they get worn out, they need to provide you with a new pair of boots in order to work. Decent companies will just buy you good ones, probably about £50-£100 just because they are more likely to last.
I didn’t get to vote as I only found this sub yesterday! I’m a site based PM, so as long as I don’t take advantage I can order my own boots, up to about £150 before anyone would query it I would think.
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I was surprised that my company didn't have a policy on this, which is why I wanted a survey to be able to show them that it was more common than not.
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The US has exemptions for boots for some reason.
Other ppe has to be provided.
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We get $120 that is based on the office manager's discretion. Lots of field work? Maybe once per year. In the office 99% of the time? Maybe once every few years.
It was impossible to find anything for $120 though. Red Wings will give you a discount if you ask based on your reimbursement. I got a pair for around $150 when the asking price was around $200.
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Impossible? I wear $30 steel toed work boots.
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I used to wear those for hazardous waste work when a pair wouldn't survive the decontamination process past a week. It wasn't good at the end of the day but it did the job.
That is not the type of work boots you need for field work, nor should your employer expect you to wear $30 steel toes just because they exist. You need safety boots that meet the applicable standards of the industry, which for me is penetration resistant soles and safety toes per whatever US specification applies. For others, you may need electrical resistance.
Documentation should be available if there is a question or an incident. You won't get that for $30 Walmart steel toes, but you will for $200 Red Wings.
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I'm not arguing whether one should or should not use expensive boots like red wings, but you actually can get those things in $30 walmart boots.
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I can charge boots to the company card, no hard timeframe but every two years or so is typical
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Used to be 1 pair per career, no official $ limit, but if you spent over $200 you better have an explanation. Now they have just changed it to $150 every 5 years. This is with a federal agency.
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4 pairs every 2 years fully covered. But I try not to get pairs over $150
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$250 once every two years. US Army Corps of Engineers (former employeer)
$150 towards a pair, renewal unknown. (consultant firm)
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It New Zealand it's law that that the employer provides you with PPE.
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If your employer has you even thinking about work boots they're screwing you with your salary. It's a write off for God's sake.
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i honestly just buy what i need and then submit the expense report. i dont even check to see if it gets paid because my monthly salary will always make the expense report look like peanuts comparatively. it may be more relevant for the jr engineers who arent sealing projects
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Peanuts add up to dollars in this case. Count them all.
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Oh wow, bit of a difference within the UK. Are your boots not considered essential PPE? We (within the uk) get them purchased/fully reimbursed as long as they’re not a “premium” brand. But that’s because then they’re an essential part of the job, health and safety wise.
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Hahaha in the US some trades even have to provide their own tools ffs.
Because of freedom or something like that.
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I didn't answer the survey, but I'm in private industry and my company will pay $125 toward boots every 2 years. Which is better than nothing, but kind of frustrating considering any decent brand will run you more than that.
I agree. We now get less than $100, with no length of time added. They said "You can get a good pair of boots for that amount," which I disagree with. With how much they talk about safety, you would think they would be willing to spend a little bit more to prevent any recordable injuries.
I spent $250 on Red Wings and I still am waiting to hear if I will get the reimbursement (since I bought them before the reimbursement was announced, out of need).
Also didn't answer the survey but we get I think $135? State government, they get a pretty good discount from the local work wear place, so it's enough. I'm probably 50/50 field/office and have been here a year. Still on my first pair of timberlands. I could replace once a year if I need to.