Elon Musk, the leader of SpaceX and Tesla, is leading a push to require employees to return to in-person work. On Tuesday, Musk sent emails to employees at each company demanding that workers spend a minimum of 40 hours in the office per week or else their employment would be terminated. In his messages, Musk explained his belief that the visible presence of employees is a critical factor in developing new, successful products.
Considering the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Employers have expressed differing viewpoints regarding the need for a return to an in-person work environment as well as how to transition back to such a work setting. Recent statistics issued by Gallup in February 2022 show that most remote-capable employees have continued to work from home, with 42% of remote-capable employees working a hybrid schedule, while 39% worked entirely from home.
Despite the differing opinions on working from home, hybrid schedules, or a full return to in office operations, Employers should still have proper policies in place to address the varying types of office operations. This includes having a compliant written policy, such as updating your Employee Handbook, creating and/or maintaining your work from home policy and implementing proper flex schedule policies to limit your legal risk. Given the significant increases in wage and hour claims and changes to the legal landscape in light of the new CA Supreme Court Case in Naranjo v. Spectrum Security, Employers need to take the time to audit their employment policies and practices to ensure compliance. To learn more about CA labor law requirements, contact the Employer Lawyers at Chauvel & Glatt.
This material in this article, provided by Chauvel & Glatt, is designed to provide informative and current information as of the date of the post. It should not be considered, nor is it intended to constitute legal advice. For information on your particular circumstances, please contact Chauvel & Glatt at 650-573-9500 for legal assistance near you.
