Under California law, you are entitled to be reimbursed by your employer for the purchase of the tools for performing your work with two significant caveats:
- You are not entitled to be reimbursed for using “hand tools” such as a screw driver and hammer. The reason for this exception is probably the fact that these tools are inexpensive, are needed for private use anyway, and there is minimal to no wear-and-tear on those tools as a result of using them extensively.
- You are not entitled to reimbursement for using your own tools if your employer pays you at least twice the minimum wage.
If you make less than twice the minimum wage, and your employer refuses to reimburse you for the tools you purchased to do the work, which are not “hand tools”, you may file a claim for that violation with the Department of labor.
However, the practical question is whether filing that type of claim for what usually is a modest compensation is worth the risk of being retaliated against by the employer. Even though, this would be illegal, the employer can still choose to take that type of action. The answer to this question depends on a number of factors that are unique to your situation, including the amount you are owed under the law, how much you care about that job, and whether you can afford losing it as a result of filing a claim.