: Under the Fair Labor Standards Act , reimbursement is generally only required if the cost of the phone or data plan would effectively drop the employee's hourly earnings below the federal minimum wage. Privacy and Data Security Concerns
The primary reason employees push back against work apps is the fear of surveillance. : Under the Fair Labor Standards Act ,
While an employer cannot physically force you to install software on your property, they can make it a requirement for you to keep your job. : Illinois, Massachusetts, and several others have similar
: Illinois, Massachusetts, and several others have similar laws requiring reimbursement for "necessary expenditures" incurred by employees. : Under the Fair Labor Standards Act ,
Yes, your employer can generally require you to download a work-related app on your personal phone as a condition of employment, but this comes with significant legal and financial caveats depending on your location. In most "at-will" states in the U.S., an employer can terminate an employee for refusing to comply with a workplace mandate, including the installation of a necessary work app.