Australia Post has paused the nationwide rollout of its new uniforms following widespread complaints from workers about inadequate sun protection and transparency issues in the hi-vis polo shirts.
Rollout Delayed Amid Safety Concerns
The new corporate uniforms, intended for 60,000 employees and contractors, began phasing in across the workforce in January after an 18-month trial. The full transition was scheduled for completion by March. However, just weeks later, the company initiated a safety review of the SPF 50-rated polo shirts due to reports of severe sunburns among posties and outdoor staff.
Workers report that the shirts are excessively thin, leading to burns on backs and upper arms even during regular use. The material also proves see-through, exposing undergarments and tattoos. Many staff were required to discard old uniforms beforehand, prompting them to purchase replacement hi-vis shirts and seek reimbursements.
Union Highlights Costly Fallout
Communication Workers Union Victorian branch secretary Troy McGuinness warned that the mishap could cost Australia Post tens of millions of dollars. “If they thought this was going to save them $5 million, this stuff up is going to cost them $25-$30 million,” McGuinness stated.
Following a February 6 meeting with management, posties and subcontractors may continue using old uniforms until at least March 30 while further testing occurs. McGuinness noted persistent problems during the trial, including poor sun protection, low quality, shrinking after washing, and fit issues, which were reportedly overlooked.
“They were see-through, people got sunburnt, and they shrank in the wash,” McGuinness said. “We had reports of posties getting sunburn through the shirts. We had posties coming back with sunburn on their backs and on their upper arms. Throughout the 18-month trial period these issues were reported to them, and they ignored them.”
Australia Post Responds
An Australia Post spokesperson confirmed the pause, emphasizing employee safety. “The safety of our team is our number one priority, and some concerns have been raised with a SPF 50 graded polo shirt, one garment out of a new 80-item uniform range,” the spokesperson said.
“We have advised team members to continue wearing their old uniform until the new polo shirt is determined safe, suitable, and meets our quality expectations. Valuable insight from over 2500 uniformed team members was incorporated into the final design.”
Australia Post employs over 34,000 direct staff and 30,000 contractors, many in outdoor roles requiring protective hi-vis gear. Such uniforms qualify as personal protective equipment in high-risk sectors like logistics, where sun protection standards are mandatory.
