Work Related Expenses & Travel
Employers are obligated to reimburse their employees
for expenses they incur in carrying out their duties. If the employers fail to
do so, they can be held responsible for the expense costs, interest and
attorney’ fees. Employers who require their employees to use their
personal vehicle to perform their duties. Costs that employers are responsible
for include training costs, telephone charges, postage, photocopying, office
supplies, and other costs that result in performance of work duties.
California law requires that employees be paid for all
hours worked, including travel time other than commute time from home to the
place of employment. Compensable time includes time in which an employee is
required to travel in an employer’s vehicle.
Uniforms
When employers require uniforms to be worn by
employees as a condition of employment, that uniform must be provided and
maintained by the employer. The term "uniform" includes wearing apparel and
accessories of distinctive design or color. Ordinary work clothes are not
considered uniforms when the employees have free choice of what to wear. When
the employer specifies the design or color or requires that an insignia be
affixed, it is considered a uniform. White nurses’ uniforms and black and
white uniforms for service personnel need not be supplied to employees by the
employer, as these uniforms are standard in their industries and can be used
from one job to the next. Employees may be asked to maintain employer-furnished
uniforms when the uniforms require minimal time for care, e.g., uniforms made
of a material requiring only washing and tumble or drip drying. Employers must
maintain or provide a maintenance allowance for uniforms requiring ironing or
dry cleaning, or uniforms requiring special laundering for heavy soil, or
requiring patching and repairs due to the nature of the work. Where an employer
does not provide a uniform allowance, an employee may be entitled to
reimbursement for costs incurred for maintenance. An employer who is required
to furnish personal protective clothing or equipment must also pay for that
equipment.
Tools & Equipment
If an employer requires an employee to have certain
tools or equipment, or if such tools are required to perform the job, the
employer must provide and maintain them. However, any employee who is paid at
least twice the minimum wage, may be required to provide and maintain hand
tools and equipment customarily required by his or her trade. Exceptions may
apply to apprentices, beauty salons and barbershops.
For a free consultation about California labor law
violations with an experienced employee rights attorney, contact David Spivak:
- Email David@MyWorkMyWages.com
- Call toll free (877) 277-2950
- Visit The Spivak Law Firm, 16530 Ventura Boulevard Suite 312 Encino, CA 91436
- Fax (310) 499-4739
The Spivak Law Firm is a full service employee rights
law firm. David Spivak and his team are proud to represent aggrieved employees
like you in the following matters:
For further information on your rights in the work
place, please visit our other websites:
