In the past few years, many employers changed their daily operations to offer more telecommuting options to employees. While it provides a significant advantage for both employer and employee, there is the potential for violations of employee rights when working from home occurs.
The state of Florida has several laws that protect the rights of workers whether they work from home or go into the office.
Wages and compensation
Under employment laws, individuals hired by a company should receive compensation for their labor. When working from home, there is the potential for employees to lose forms of compensation or wages that would otherwise be present in a work environment. For example, if the employee had to pay to set up a workspace in their home and purchase the equipment to use, this is a concern. In many cases, it is the business that is responsible for the expenses related to work activities.
As a remote worker, any travel required to attend meetings, events or training could require compensation or reimbursement for travel time or mileage. Workers’ compensation is still a benefit to employees who are working at home, so long as the injury stems from a work-related task completed at home.
Employer rights
The working location of the employee does not jeopardize the employer’s authority over the individual, as it relates to contracts, termination and other issues. An employer must obey applicable state laws, but there are no additional burdens placed on the company. However, these areas are complex and decision-making should come after careful thought and legal counsel.
Where an employee works might change how business operations take place, but it does not render employment law requirements invalid. Compliance concerns can quickly lead to costly litigation.