Nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic, “working from home” or “WFH” is part of our everyday language. The virus seemed to come out of nowhere and forced many employers to rush into remote working arrangements. Because of this, many did not have time to prepare or to consider the legal ramifications of WFH.
With the transition to a remote workforce, the traditional 9-5 workday seems to have morphed into a 24-7 working arrangement. Personal and work life has blurred as the phone, computer and other devices constantly ping workers at all hours, with many employers expecting instantaneous responses. Remote employees, most of whom are just grateful to still be employed during the recession, often feel compelled to be available to their employers around the clock. Not surprisingly then, remote employees often report working longer hours than ever before as work blends into home life. Even more often, these employees are not paid for all hours worked, as their employers either (1) fail to properly track their time, (2) believe that the ”luxury” of working from home allows them to contact their employees at any time, but not pay for that time, or (3) simply do not understand that responding to an employer’s communications – whether via email, text, video chat, IM, or any other electronic communication platform – constitutes “work” within the meaning of the law.
To ensure they are paid all time worked, employees should record all hours on the employer’s timekeeping system. If the employer does not have a timekeeping system, or if the system does not permit an employee to enter time outside of regularly scheduled hours, the employee should then keep a record of all time worked outside of regularly scheduled hours and report that time to their employer at the end of the work week.
If your employer is refusing to pay you for all time worked – including time spent responding to communications outside of your regular shift or after normal business hours – or for any other questions regarding pay or overtime, don’t hesitate to contact Shavitz Law Group at (561) 447-8888 or visit us at www.shavitzlaw.com for a free, no obligation review of your circumstances and consultation regarding your rights.
YOU EARNED IT, NOW LETS GO GET IT.
Gregg Shavitz, Shavitz Law Group, 951 Yamato Rd Ste 285, Boca Raton, FL and 800 3rd Ave, Suite 2800, New York, NY. Lawyers licensed in states including FL, NY, NJ, and TX. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based on advertisements alone.
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