Are employers allowed to require employees to reimburse them for expenses?

In California, employers are allowed to require employees to reimburse them for expenses, but there are certain conditions that must be met in order for this to be legally valid. For example, if the employer agrees to cover the cost of an employee’s travel expenses for work-related purposes, the employer usually has the right to require reimbursement if the employee does not complete the job or tasks for which they were traveling. If the employee agrees to reimburse their employer in writing, then this is a legally binding agreement. It should be noted that California Labor Code requires employers to reimburse employees for all reasonable and necessary expenses that occurred in the course of employment. This can include travel, equipment, materials, or any other supplies used in the job. However, the employer cannot charge the employee for any expenditures that would otherwise be considered as wages. In any case, it is important to keep in mind that employees should always read and understand their employment contracts before signing them. If an employer is requiring reimbursement of expenses, the employee should make sure that the contract clearly states the expenses that must be reimbursed and the terms of the reimbursement. It is important to understand these details to ensure that the employer and employee are both in agreement.

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