Work From Home: Policies
Due to advancement in technology, employees are able to work from home. The arrangement is referred to as telecommuting. With the help of the internet, workers can do the same job from their homes just like the way they will have worked from offices. This will benefit both employers as well as employees. There are several laws which are applied to make the arrangement successful.
Employment Laws stay the same even for remote workers
When you work from home, the laws of at-will work places apply. Even if you will work from home, you are just part of remote workers and the employer controls the work you do. It is unlike a case of self-employment where you will be your own boss. All states apply at will law apart from Montana. In Montana you can be fired for different reasons apart from discrimination. You are protected against work place discrimination basing on age, gender or race.
Work-At-Home Agreements and the Disabled
The federal government recognizes work from home job arrangements for disabled employees. The equal employment opportunity commission encourages work from home arrangements for disabled employees. The federal law requires employers to take necessary steps and help disabled employees work irrespective of their conditions. The employers are required to accommodate the disabilities of the individual at their work places.
Working from Home Can Result in Tax Deductions
If you work from home, then you can claim tax deduction due to your work from home work space. Disabled employees are not able to claim for tax deduction due to their home offices. This is because the arrangement benefits the workers. If you work from home due to lack of office space at your employer premises, then the arrangement benefits the employer hence you can claim for tax deduction.
Your Agreement Should Be Written and Comprehensive
It is necessary for you to get any work from home arrangement documented in writing. This is necessary for you to protect both the employer and the employee. The agreement should indicate the employee is obliged to follow business codes and conduct. It should indicate the employee will be on call and the duties he will be required to fulfill each day. If the employee will take equipment such as work computers home, the agreement should state that will happen if the equipment will be lost.
An Employment Lawyer Can Help
In order to understand all laws related to work from home, you should contact an employment lawyer. The lawyer will explain all legal matters related to remote workers to you.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock/ goodluz