When we look at California, the question from an employer is not, “Are we required to reimburse employees for use of their personal phone?” — it’s “How much do we reimburse an employee for use of their personal phone?” In many states, this is a grey area and one in which employers enjoy a great deal of discretion. However, in California, reimbursement for use of an employee’s mobile device is required by law (California Labor Code Section 2802), but the amount of reimbursement is open to discussion.

There is often confusion regarding whether employers are mandated by law to provide employees with rest and lunch breaks. Many employers in the US would be surprised to learn that there are no federal laws requiring employers to give employees any kind of break. Instead, these regulations are essentially a function of state law. Even so, only a handful of states require employers to provide employees with rest and lunch breaks.