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Which work-from-home costs must your boss cover?

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Which Work-From-Home Costs Must Your Boss Cover?

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Your employer must reimburse you for any expenses you incur when doing your job from home. California Law makes this clear, and it applies whether you’re on a laptop in your kitchen or working from a dedicated home office. Here are the most common work-from-home costs that qualify for reimbursement. Internet and phone charges you use for work You should be reimbursed for the reasonable portion of your internet and phone bills that you use for work. That means if you are making calls, sending emails or logging into video meetings on your personal services, your employer owes you a share of those costs even though you already had the service before working remotely. Home office equipment and supplies you need You deserve reimbursement for home office items like a printer, ink, paper and other supplies you use to complete your job. This holds true whether you bought new equipment specifically for work or started using what you already owned once your role shifted to a remote setup. Utility expenses tied to remote work You may also recover the part of your electricity or other utility costs that increase because of your job. While you cannot claim your entire household bill, you can claim the portion reasonably connected to your work duties such as the power needed to run your computer for long shifts. What to do if your employer does not pay You protect yourself best when you document every cost, keep every receipt and track how much of your services or utilities go toward your job. If your employer still refuses to reimburse you after you raise the issue, you may need to take the next step and pursue a claim. That is where getting legal guidance can help you enforce your rights under California law and make sure you are not left paying for expenses that never should have been yours in the first place.The post Which work-from-home costs must your boss cover? first appeared on JCL Law Firm, APC.