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Expenses and outlays: reimbursement from the employer

Anyone who uses their own money for work, for example for materials, phone, postage or meals on the road, should have these necessary outlays reimbursed. The entitlement results from the law, often supplemented by the contract or company rules.

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Your chances of getting your money back

Expenses that the employee could consider necessary in the employer's interest and to carry out their work must be reimbursed (§ 670 BGB by analogy). Flat rates or maximum limits can be agreed.
Clear receipts and a prompt settlement secure the entitlement. If reimbursement does not come, it can be enforced in writing and, if necessary, in court.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Check the rule

    See whether the contract or a works agreement regulates expenses and outlays.

  2. 2

    2. Collect receipts

    Keep receipts and assign them to the work-related reason.

  3. 3

    3. Observe deadlines

    Submit the statement before contractual cut-off deadlines expire.

  4. 4

    4. Demand in writing

    If payment does not come, demand it in writing with a set deadline.

How to spot the scam

  • Necessary outlays are refused without reason.
  • A short cut-off deadline in the contract is about to expire.
  • Receipts are missing or the work-related reason is unclear.

Frequently asked questions

Must the employer reimburse my outlays?

Necessary expenses that you incur in the company's interest must generally be reimbursed (§ 670 BGB by analogy). What is reimbursed in detail, and whether flat rates apply, often results from the contract or company rules.

Which deadlines apply to the statement?

Many employment contracts contain cut-off deadlines under which claims must be asserted within a few months, otherwise they lapse. Therefore settle expenses and outlays promptly and observe the deadlines in the contract.

What can I do if I am not reimbursed?

Demand the reimbursement in writing with receipts and a deadline. If the employer does not react, you can pursue the claim further. Make sure to keep contractual cut-off deadlines so that the claim does not lapse.

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General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.