Bad Job, Worse Uniform

Some jobs just aren't given a good reputation. Whether it be a theme park, fast food establishment or kid-oriented restaurant, you know what these are. They are the jobs that are considered degrading, even if they really aren't (or the level of degradation is exaggerated).

This is where the uniform comes in.

There's a certain dress code, it seems, with the jobs you see on television. The Power Rangers, Sailor Moon and Neo from the Matrix all sport fabric people wish to emulate. Kings and queens prefer a little more shine in their clothes, because they can afford it and frills need company obviously. However, for the poor souls trapped in a menial job, they must relinquish their dignity in favor of a more 'unique' costume - even if it's nominally a uniform.

As stated, a Worse Uniform needn't be a costume necessarily; this is based on the job the character entails. It is meant more to reflect how bad the job is beyond the menial labor involved - and this type of uniform is usually involved with such jobs. As a result, you likely won't wonder what job the character holds while he is in uniform.

This is often implemented for characters who just want to get out of their 9-to-5 jobs, as well as those in their first jobs when they aren't experienced enough for hire in the glamorous ones. They may even hate the job enough to take action later, though until that happens, they're stuck with it or if they find a peaceful solution. A character in this situation may be the only sane employee and reflects constantly on how no one else seems to notice the job is hazardous to one's mental state.

This may also be used to give a character some much needed perspective. Not all jobs are as fascinating as they sound and a character with more naivety than anything else may suffer from the experience. Going in this direction depends on what moral you wish to impart, though do be careful with your Aesop. It also can depend on the mood you wish to develop, though it can present its own problems when you switch moods inappropriately.

Ultimately this may be depend more on the atmosphere you wish to present. It isn't unexpected that darker works, especially if it is a work changing its tone either during or after its original run, will take this trope incredibly seriously, enough that you wonder if it'll reach nightmarish levels. This is especially interesting for those works if they were originally very cutesy and nigh-diabetic in its sweetness  only to become darker and edgier, whether due to Cerebus Syndrome in its own country or making the jump from one country to another and meeting culture shock.