Q: Can a company in AL require the use of a cell phone at work if they are not reimbursing for the phone's bill/cost?
Wife's company is now requiring them to use an app on their phone to sign into the computers. They do not reimburse for cell phone bill or provide a company phone. Is this allowed, and if she refuses to use her phone for work (as they aren't covering the bill) can she be fired with reason?
A:
In Alabama, there are no specific laws that require employers to reimburse employees for the use of personal cell phones for work-related purposes. However, this area can be complex and might intersect with federal laws or guidelines. If an employer requires the use of a personal cell phone for work, such as using an app for signing into computers, and this results in significant expenses for the employee, there could be arguments for reimbursement under certain circumstances.
Regarding your wife's situation, if she refuses to use her personal phone for work purposes and the employer considers this non-compliance a serious issue, it could potentially lead to termination. However, the fairness or legality of such a termination could depend on the specific circumstances, including the nature of her job, the cost implications of using her personal phone, and whether the requirement is reasonable and consistently applied.
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