Linda Bond Edwards provides insight on the recent focus on return to work and what risks employers face from differing policies between office workers and “deskless” employees who never had the option to work remotely in an article published by the Society of Human Resource Management on August 19, 2021.

A recent focus on the return to worksites, some employers may risk overlooking “deskless” employees who never had the option to work remotely. From grocery store workers, factory employees, nurses, retail workers and others, these workers could not work from home. Does an employer face litigation risks in treating deskless and office workers differently?

Linda Bond Edwards explains, “the employer always makes the determination about how the work is done and where.” Even after the pandemic has subsided, some employers may allow certain departments to continue to work remotely, while others such as manufacturing employees must return to the worksite.

The article further outlines the legal risks to employers and what deskless workers must show to have a discrimination claim.  

Read the article.