Employee Purchases under the California Labor Code

California law provides rules related to purchases made by employees in Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Labor Code. Section 450 prohibits any employer, agent, or officer from compelling or coercing any employee, or applicant for employment, to patronize his or her employer, or any other person, in the purchase of anything of value.

The law states that “to compel or coerce the purchase of anything of value” include instances where an employer requires the payment of a fee or consideration of any type from an applicant for employment for any of the following purposes:

(1) For an individual to apply for employment orally or in writing.

(2) For an individual to receive, obtain, complete, or submit an application for employment.

(3) For an employer to provide, accept, or process an application for employment.

Section 451 provides that any person, agent, or officer who violates this article is guilty of a misdemeanor. Section 452 states that nothing in this article prohibits an employer from prescribing the weight, color, quality, texture, style, form and make of uniforms required to be worn by his employees.