In-Home Consultants in California Can Expect Expense Reimbursement

For in-home consultants in California, state law provides for reimbursement of business-related expenses the same as for other California employees.

Like other employees working in fields like telecommunications, advertising, or pharmaceutical sales, employees who generally do their work in clients’ homes also incur expenses in the course of a work day.

Some of these employees are compensated on commission, and that may complicate the determination of what expenses qualify or how much is owed.

But even though the calculations may be complex, California law ensures these employees  are still entitled to reimbursement of work-related expenses.

According to the California Labor Code, employees in that state are entitled to reimbursement for all “necessary expenditures … incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties.”

It’s a pretty broad and open-ended requirement, so it covers a large array of work-related expenses. This coverage also extends to employees whose compensation is based on a commission.

Conversely, California employers are prohibited from deducting the costs of these expenses from employee compensation.

Can In-Home Consultants in California Get Reimbursed?

In-home consultants in California
can qualify for these reimbursements, too. These are professionals who work in areas like remodeling, interior design or solar power system sales – professions carried on inside a client’s home.

Since employees like this are generally out in the field, they can rack up lots of different types of expenses in the course of a workday.

One of the more common types of reimbursed expenses are car-related. Employees who drive as part of their work can expect reimbursement for mileage, fuel, taxi rides, or other similar car-related expenses.

When employees have to use their own vehicles to perform tasks for work, California law requires the employer to reimburse the employee either for their actual expenses – not just gas money but also depreciation and wear and tear – or for mileage at the IRS standard rate, which changes every year.

Costs for supplies, cell phone use, courier services – just about any kind of cost incurred in the line of business may be reimbursed. If a business lunch is in order, the employer can be expected to take care of the check.

Employers can also be required to cover costs like those related to transactional errors or the settlement of disputes with customers.

The employer’s obligation to reimburse work-related expenses remains in place even if the employee doesn’t file an expense report. The law requires employers to take care of tracking work-related expenses and ensuring they get reimbursed. That responsibility remains with the employer even if no expense report is on file.

What Recourse Do In-Home Consultants in California Have?

If the employer does not reimburse an employee for eligible expenses, the employee may have some options available. In-home consultants in California may be entitled to the amount of the expenses themselves plus interest that accrues from the date the employee incurred the expense.

California employees who need to file an employee rights lawsuit to get their reimbursement may also be entitled to have their attorney’s fees and court costs covered.

Join a Free California Outside Sales Expense Reimbursement Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you worked as an outside sales representative in California in the last four years and your employer did not reimburse your expenses, your employer may be violating your rights and you may be entitled to compensation.

Get a Free Case Evaluation Now