Reimbursement Q&A

A: Reasonable expenses that are necessary to perform job duties may qualify for reimbursement. Some examples of these expenses include:

• Costs incurred for driving a personal vehicle and associated gas and mileage for a task assigned at work;
• Purchase of mandatory uniform; Costs incurred for separately laundering mandatory uniforms due to toxins or heavy soiling;
• Purchase of tools; and
• Costs incurred due to the use of a personal cellphone.

A:  The short answer is no. Employers are required to provide their employees with all tools, equipment, and supplies necessary to perform their job duties.  This is not something that employees may contract around.

A:  Yes.  In some instances where an employee is paid twice the minimum wage or where the expenditures were unlawful and the employee who incurred the cost knew he was incurring them on an unlawful activity or item.

A: Many companies are now having employees perform work duties remotely as a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although this may reduce the risk of employees contracting COVID, it makes them vulnerable to having their reimbursement rights violated as many employees face the burden of having to incur necessary business expenses such as:

• Purchase of computers;
• Purchase of printers;
• Costs incurred due to the use of personal internet;
• Purchase of office supplies; and
• Purchase of desk and office chair

A: The items listed above, if being used to perform work remotely, may qualify for partial or full reimbursement.  However, in the event they are fully reimbursed, the purchased item(s) may be classified as the employer’s property.