April 27, 2022
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Work from Home Expenses Lead to Lawsuits

         

Since the pandemic an increasing chunk of office jobs have been done from the kitchen table, home office, or anywhere a worker can find the space, and the trend seems to be sticking. One unexpected result of this transition to remote work has been the hidden costs of doing an office job from home. According to a recent LA Times story, remote workers across the country have resorted to lawsuits to recoup out of pocket expenses that have started to pile up.

The burdens of heating, internet, and phone bills, as well as all manner of office supplies once taken as a given when going into work every day are now being shouldered by workers. In some cases these expenses have really added up, with some lawsuits claiming workers have spent thousands of dollars out of pocket. 

No where has this crunch been more keenly felt than in tech, where it was industry de rigeur to offer all sorts of perks, like free meals and dry cleaning services, to lure top talent. Tech was a major adopter of the work from home trend during the pandemic and many of the workers saw these perks dry up as they were sent home from the office.

While this might sound a bit precious, many tech workers live in the most expensive areas in the country, and these perks were seen as a necessity to get by in San Francisco, Seattle or New York.

Ultimately, many of the suits argue that these bills should not be footed by the employees but the employers who are already saving boatloads of money by furloughing workers and saving on rents and expenses by passing them along to workers.

Governor Hochul Signs Anti-Harassment and Discrimination Bills

March 24, 2022
Sexual Harassment
In front of gender equity and women’s rights advocates attending a celebration of Women’s History Month Governor Kathy Hochul signed a raft of legislation aiming to bolster workplace rights and protections in the state.

Remote Work a Boon for Pregnant Workers?

March 14, 2022
Pregnancy Discrimination
Kessler notes that for those fortunate enough to be able to work from home, the small box containing their faces no longer broadcasts impending parenthood. Instead, women are able to focus on work, an act of normalcy expectant parents who aren’t pregnant have always enjoyed.

Collusion and Lack of Competition Designed to Favor Employers

March 10, 2022
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The report describes the myriad ways in which employers collaborate to prevent workers from seeking better opportunities elsewhere. These tactics lead to missing out on 15-25% of possible wages a worker might otherwise hope to command, according to estimates in the report.

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