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The ability to work from home is, in many ways, a privilege. Those who work in service industries and aren’t given the option to work remotely don’t have the same amount of flexibility or control over their time as remote workers. When we talk with employers who need help retaining employees, we often suggest offering remote or hybrid work schedules as an attraction tool. Not having to drive to the office daily offers everybody, whether they are a caregiver or not, the same thing—flexibility and time. In fact, a 2023 study found that getting rid of a commute to the office saved American workers an average of 72 minutes a day.  

In our March newsletter, we published an article about things to think about if you’re considering allowing employees to work remotely on a permanent basis.  In this article we take the discussion one step further and discuss considerations if your company receives a request from a permanently remote employee to relocate to another state.

Because the labor market is still relatively tight and employers are concerned about keeping their “A” players, many are now considering allowing their employees to work remotely on a permanent basis.

While this may sound pretty straight-forward (the employee has a laptop and phone, so what’s the harm in allowing them to work from wherever they want?), there are several things to consider first, including the fact that this decision could actually increase your travel expenses, before determining if permanent remote work is a prudent move for your company.

Whether your workplace is fully remote, operating in a hybrid fashion, or sticking to a traditional onsite schedule, it’s important to understand all of the important considerations for employers in the emerging post-COVID workplace. Join us for CEA’s 2022 Mid-Year Labor Law Update. This engaging webinar will be presented by California subject matter experts, who will discuss new issues and best practices in employment and HR compliance. CEA members and non-members can register here for this virtual event coming up on June 16th.