Many California employees incur various business-related expenses while on-the-job. Under California Labor Code, Sec. 2802, employers are legally required to reimburse employees for any ‘reasonable and necessary expenditures’ incurred in relation to their employment. Some of the most common reimbursable expenses include:
- Vehicle expenses (e.g. mileage, maintenance, gas, registration)
- Travel expenses (e.g. food, transportation, etc. for business trips)
- Cell phones
- Internet
- Home office expenses
Filing an unpaid wage claim for failure to reimburse
Some employers will do whatever they can to avoid reimbursing employees for the money they spend while within the course of their employment. Employers may violate California’s reimbursement law by failing to reimburse an employee for:
- Required uniforms
- Mileage when an employee uses their own vehicle to run errands for work
- Lodging, food, and other business trip expenses
- Equipment and tools used on the job
- Financial loss when a client fails to pay for services
Employers are legally (and morally) required to pay an employee the correct amount for the work they do. That includes making sure that the employee is reimbursed for any reasonable work-related expenses. If your employer has miscalculated wages, failed to reimburse you properly, or otherwise failed to pay you the amount owed to you, you can file an unpaid wage claim against your employer. An attorney specializing in labor and employment law can help you with your claim and ensure that your employer reimburses you for your expenditures and pays you the amount you are owed for your work.