Failure to Reimburse Expenses

Los Angeles Expense Reimbursement Attorneys

California Employers Must Reimburse Employees for Certain Business Expenses

California expense reimbursement laws make it clear that employees have the right to be reimbursed for most job-related expenses they pay out of pocket. When an employer causes undue delay in paying an employee for such expenses or flat out refuses to reimburse an employee for these expenses, it can be frustrating, to say the least. Fortunate for employees is that the law is on their side. Refusing to reimburse an employee for job-related expenses paid out can land an employer in hot water, including litigation.

Do California Employers Have to Reimburse Workers for Business Expenses?

Yes, pursuant to California Labor Code Section 2802, employers are required to reimburse employees for work-related expenses. This law was established to prevent California employers from trying to shift the cost of doing business onto employees. As a result, Section 2802 mandates the reimbursement of most job-related expenses by an employer to an employee who paid out of pocket.

What Expenses Must Be Reimbursed by an Employer?

In order to have a valid reimbursement claim under California Labor Code 2802, an employee must have incurred an expense that was both reasonable and necessary for the employee to do their job. To make clear what expenses must be reimbursed, it is common for an employer to have a reimbursement policy in place detailing eligible expenses. Some of the most common work-related expenses that are eligible for reimbursement include:

• Conference fees
• Training costs
• Cost of work uniform and accessories
• Cost of maintaining work uniform
• Travel expenses
• Personal cell phone used for business purposes
• Cost of necessary work tools or equipment
• Cost of maintaining work tools or equipment
• Driving costs, including mileage reimbursement for distance traveled in a personal vehicle

What Happens if an Employer Refuses to Reimburse an Employee for Business Expenses?

Employees have an inalienable legal right to be reimbursed by an employer for business expenses. This right cannot be waived by an employee. Any attempt at contracting around this obligation in an employment contract will be deemed unenforceable in court. Should an employer terminate an employee for trying to enforce their right to reimbursement, the employer can be exposed to a wrongful termination lawsuit.

If an employer refuses to reimburse an employee for job-related expenses, the employee may have the right to not only pursue recovery for those expenses, but also interest accruing from the date the money was spent, and the cost of attorney’s fees incurred by the employee in seeking enforcement of their right to reimbursement.

Hold Your Employer Accountable by Contacting the Barkhordarian Law Firm Today

Knowing your employee rights is important, but it is often only half the battle. Working to enforce employment rights, such as the right to reimbursement for business expenses, can be an uphill battle.

Our Los Angeles failure to reimburse lawyers at the Barkhordarian Law Firm will assist you in pursuing an expense reimbursement claim against your employer. We want to hold your employer accountable for their obligation to reimburse you and we also want to see you properly compensated.