Expense Reimbursement

 California law requires employers to reimburse employees for all necessary job-related expenses. If you've paid out of pocket for work expenses, our employment lawyers can help you recover your costs plus penalties.

  Under California Labor Code Section 2802, employers must reimburse for:

• ALL necessary expenses incurred while performing your job
• Reasonable costs of required items and services
• Expenses you were directed to incur
• Costs necessary to complete your work duties

  California employers must reimburse for:

• Personal vehicle use for work (beyond normal commute)
• Mileage at the IRS rate (67 cents per mile in 2024)
• Parking and tolls for work-related travel
• Remote work expenses
• Internet service portion used for work
• Personal cell phone used for work calls
• Home office equipment and supplies
• Required equipment and tools
• Computer hardware and software
• Work phones and tablets
• Specialized tools or equipment
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Safety gear and clothing
• Required uniforms and uniform maintenance
• Protective equipment and supplies
• Training and certification costs
• Required licenses and certifications
• Mandatory training programs
• Professional memberships required for work
• Business travel expenses
• Transportation costs
• Lodging and meals
• Conference and meeting fees

  Employers often violate reimbursement laws by:

• Requiring employees to pay for their own work supplies
• Not reimbursing for personal vehicle use
• Failing to pay for remote work expenses
• Making employees buy their own uniforms or safety equipment
• Not reimbursing for required phone or internet use
• Delaying reimbursement payments unreasonably
• Requiring receipts for mileage reimbursement
• Using reimbursement rates below IRS standards
• Making deductions from wages for business expenses
• Claiming expenses are "voluntary" when they're necessary for work

 With more employees working from home, employers must pay for:

• A reasonable percentage of internet costs
• Personal cell phone use for work
• Required home office equipment
• Printer supplies and paper
• Other necessary remote work expenses

You Have Rights Regardless Of:

• Whether you agreed to pay the expenses
• If you signed a policy waiving reimbursement
• Your job title or classification
• Whether you're full-time or part-time
• If you're paid salary or hourly

For unpaid expenses, you may be entitled to:

• Full reimbursement of all necessary expenses
• Interest on delayed reimbursements
• Penalties for willful violations
• Attorney's fees and legal costs
• Additional damages for wage statement violations
• Up to four years of back expenses

 To strengthen your reimbursement claim:

• Keep detailed records of all work expenses
• Save all receipts and mileage logs
• Document when expenses were submitted
• Track business use of personal devices
• Save emails or policies about expenses
• Note any retaliation for requesting reimbursement

Employers often wrongly claim:

• "It's your choice to work remotely"
• "Everyone uses their own phone"
• "We don't have to pay IRS mileage rates"
• "You agreed to cover these costs"
• "These are normal costs of having a job"

None of these excuses eliminate your right to reimbursement.

 Courts have clarified that:

• Employers must pay reasonable remote work expenses
• Cell phone reimbursement is required even with unlimited plans
• Employees can't waive their reimbursement rights
• Home internet costs must be partially reimbursed for remote work
• Mileage between work sites must be reimbursed.

Don't wait to assert your rights:

• Three years to file basic reimbursement claims
• Four years under unfair business practices claims
• Ongoing violations may extend these deadlines
• Prompt action ensures better record preservation

California law prohibits employers from:

• Firing you for requesting reimbursement
• Reducing hours for submitting expenses
• Discriminating against those who file claims
• Pressuring employees not to submit expenses
• Retaliating against workers who discuss reimbursement rights