Failure To Reimburse For Work Related Expenses and Supplies

Wage and Hour

Advocates For Our Clients

Under California employment law, an employer must reimburse employees for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee during their time of their employment or at the direction of the employer. If an employer does not to so to reimburse the employee for reasonable expenses, we can advocate on behalf of our clients to work to recover the expense, interest, and reasonable attorney fees.

Failure To Reimburse Reasonable Expenses

The employment attorneys at Salusky Law Group help employees get the rightful reimbursement they are owed. We know the tactics that employers try to use to delay reimbursement or deny the expenses were necessary or reasonable. We will use our experience and the law to resolve your unpaid reimbursement issues. You paid for the work expense and you deserve to be reimbursed.

Common Questions

  • What are the obligations of an employer to reimburse reasonable expenses?
  • What does the law consider a “reasonable” expense?
  • What tactics do employers use to deny or underpay reimbursements?
  • What types of expenses are subject to failure to reimburse?
  • Do you need an employment attorney to represent your expense reimbursement claim in Los Angeles?
  • What happens if the employer fails to reimburse lots of employees?
  • What are your reimbursement rights as an employee in Los Angeles?

Find answers to these questions in our Frequently Asked Questions and answers below

Contact Us To Discuss Your Case

If you are having troubles getting reimbursed, contact Salusky Law Group by calling us at (562) 855-0004 to schedule a case evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions & Information


In order to bring an action for reimbursement of necessary expenses, the employee has to show the following:

  • The employee made expenditures or incurred losses;
  • The expenditures or losses were incurred in direct consequence of the employee's discharge of his or her duties, or obedience to the directions of the employer
  • The expenses and expenditures were necessary.

A “reasonable” business expense that must be reimbursed depends on a number of factors.

Generally, an employer is required to reimburse an employee if the expenses or losses were incurred in the course of performing their job duties or duties at the direction of the employer.

There is not a set list of expenses that are deemed to be necessary and reasonable. Factors in determining what is a necessary expenditure or loss include:

  • Type of job
  • Type of business or industry
  • Instructions given by the employer
  • Agreement between employer and employee
  • How other employees are reimbursed
  • Company policy on expenses
  • History of reimbursements
  • Business travel
  • Non-work expenses.

There are a number of tactics employees use, and they differ depending on the company.

Some methods and tactics employers use to deny, delay, or reduce payment for the employees' expenses may include:

  • Repayment in installments
  • Requiring additional steps or records for repayment
  • Reducing the payment to less than the full expense
  • Using set expense limits without exceptions
  • Blaming employee for high expenses
  • Modifying requirements after the fact to deny reimbursement
  • Inaccurate record-keeping

Certain types of expenses are often subject to failure to reimburse claims. Common work expenses that an employer may have an issue with failure to reimburse may include:

  • Travel expenses
  • Work-from-home expenses
  • Tools
  • Phone and phone bills
  • Internet access
  • Purchase of work-related supplies
  • Job uniforms
  • Meals and entertainment
Complimentary Consultations for your legal matter from Salusky Law Group

Is your employer engaging in unfair labor practices? We can help.

When you need to file a complaint in the event of your wage and overtime rights being violated, trust in Salusky Law Group. Call us at (562) 855-0004, or Contact Us. Our consultations are complimentary.

Contact Us

Is your employer engaging in unfair labor practices? We can help.

When you need to file a complaint in the event of your wage and overtime rights being violated, trust in Salusky Law Group. Call us at (562) 855-0004, or Contact Us. Our consultations are complimentary.

Contact Us