Generally speaking, California law requires employers to reimburse employees for all necessary business expenses. Many employers require their employees to use their personal cell phones for work-related calls. What is an employer’s reimbursement obligation when an employer requires employees to use their personal cell phones for work-related calls?
Under California law, your employer must reimburse you for “some reasonable percentage” of your cell phone bill even if you have not incurred any additional expenses as a result of using your personal cell phone for work purposes. In other words, before and after your employer started requiring you to use your personal cell phone for work-related calls, your cell phone bill has consistently remained at $100 per month. Regardless, your employer must still reimburse you for “some reasonable percentage” of your monthly bill.
The problem is that courts have not specifically defined what a “reasonable percentage” is (for instance, is it 10%, 25%, 50% or more?). Given this lack of guidance, what constitutes a “reasonable percentage” may depend on the circumstances, and specifically, on how much of your personal cell phone is devoted to personal use versus work use.
If you believe that your employer is not reimbursing you for all necessary business expenses, call ((916) 612-0326) or email ([email protected]) Finley Employment Law today. We serve clients throughout California, including Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Granite Bay, and Elk Grove.
The information in this blog post is for general informational and advertising purposes only and is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. Instead, you should speak with a California employment attorney for advice regarding your individual situation.