Dear all, I have to provide a team of 35 guys safety boots every year. It is very difficult to please all, and keep everyone happy. Would I be able to give my lads an allowance each year to go and purchase their own boots and I check them for suitability, or do I have to provide them with boots. I am aware some may only go and spend a minimal amount, however I am not worried as long as they are suitable and I stop hearing consistent moaning about wef feet.

What have management said?? And have you asked the guys themselves, some as you say will just buy cheap ones, while others may actually care abou their feet and the type of footwear they wear for 8-10 odd hours a day.

MY company provide employees with a catalogue to choose from, they have an allowance of £40 anything over is payed for by the employee, this way you can monitor the suitability of the footwear.

I had the same issues with staff purchasing boots that weren't fit for purpose when I started with this company a couple of months ago. The office staff would hand over 2-3 catalogues and just let the ops choose what they wanted. Two weeks ago I rang a well-known Safety equipment supplier regarding this issue, they sent a rep around and basically between me and him we picked around 8 pairs of suitable safety boots (the choice was based on suitability and durability rather than cost). They are now providing a discounted price structure for these boots and will produce a poster I can present to the guys when it comes to renewal time. I think this makes life easier for everyone concerned as there is choice available yet I know the operators are wearing sensible boots for the processes on site, plus they're not trawling through 40+ pages of boots to find one they like.

Our company has an arrangement with a local retailer of safety footwear whereby the employee picks up a form from HR which he takes to the retailer. The form instructs the retailer that the employee needs safety footwear that bears the ASTMF-2413-05 standard, once he's chosen his footwear the employee signs the form to say that the footwear is a good fit and the retailer signs it to say that it meets the required standard. The retailer copies the form and the employees brings the original signed form back to me, I check the footwear standard and stamp the form then it goes back to HR. Once a month an HR rep goes to the retailer and collects all the form copies and between HR and Finances they settle the bill. Phew... sounds complicated but actually its very staighforward. The employees are entitled to a new pair once a year or earlier if I sign a memo stating that thier footwear is unfit for purpose due to fair wear and tear.

Why do you feel it is necessary to replace the boots every year ?, some may last longer, some a shorter period of time. You could still provide an allowance if you wish, but on a new for old basis. You would have thought that the bulk buying power of the company would allow the men to get more for the money if purchased through the company rather than as individuals. As suggested above get a good supplier on board and have a range they can chose from.