anywhere I've worked - apart from the military, I've had to supply my own tools at my own expense. Obviously, special tools are provided where needed but a box of spanners and stuff still costa a fair wedge and I've never had any sort of allowance by an employer.
But now I'm a contractor it's a way of cutting profit from my (own)company, claiming VAT back and having a big box of shiny things to look at (dunno how to use most of them, all you need is a pen)
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Gimme a bottle of anything, and a glazed donut......TO GO!