Can an employer require an employee to use their personal vehicle for company business?
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Can an employer require an employee to use their personal vehicle for company business?
I am a food service worker in a kitchen. The company had a vehicle for picking up and delivering food but now wants me to use my personal vehicle. But they don’t want to pay for the additional insurance cost. They will reimburse 45 cents/mile.
Asked on December 8, 2011 under Employment Labor Law, Idaho
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
I know that this seems unfair but it is probably legal. Most employment relationships are what is known as "at will", meaning that an employer has a great deal of discretion in imposing conditions and terms of the workplace as it sees fit. Unfortunately for you this includes the use of a personal vehicle and lack of insurance reimbursement.
Absent a stated company policy covering this, or there is a union/employment agreement that governs, or this situation has arisen due to some type of discrimination, this mandate is perfectly permissible.
Note: You can speak to your accountant about deducting such the extra insurance and related expnenses on your taxes.
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