It'd be nice if they'd at least foot some of the cost. If you're working in an industry where steel toes are required, it's not exactly a beauty contest job and color shouldn't matter. Safety is what matters.

I lucked out with my last trucking job. They required steel toes and paid all but $5 per pair of the cost. I bought 10 pair of brand new Caterpillar steeltoes and am only through my second pair.