CHAUDHRI Future cloudy for employees employers after working remotely
Author of the article:
Sunira Chaudhri
Sunira Chaudhri is an employment and labour lawyer and partner at Levitt Sheikh Chaudhri Swann. She sheds light on some questions for employees during COVID-19. Photo by Supplied photo /Levitt LLP Article content As summer days start to shorten, our work days seem to be getting longer.
AdvertisementStory continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article contentWhile popular, remote work has led to work seeping into every aspect of our lives.
I have heard stories of employees leaving their desks behind and performing work tasks on the go â€" a team meeting while in the gym; a work call while at the grocery store. This flexibility has been given a warm welcome but has come with a cost.
Some employees are burnt out, feeling as though boundaries simply do not exist anymore, working well into the night and weekends to keep up with their colleagues. Employers are simply befuddled; tackling the management of employees who are out of sight and considering how best to ensure productivity and drive results.
I have talked with many employees and business owners about how employment has changed and will continue to evolve.
AdvertisementStory continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
CHAUDHRI: Cuomo sexual harassment investigation under attack 
CHAUDHRI: As women continue to battle dress codes, suggestions of equality fall flat 
CHAUDHRI: Employers alleging dishonesty must think twice Here are some of the most popular questions I have received:
Q. I work in Toronto and rented a condo downtown to commute to work. When COVID-19 happened I gave up my place to move in with my parents about two hours away. My employer is calling us back full-time, and rents in Toronto are much higher than before. I am not getting a raise. Am I entitled to be compensated for the change in rent?
A. No. If you moved out of the city as a personal preference your employer is not on the hook to pay for the change in rent.
Q. I am a small business owner and only two of my employees have come in to work during the pandemic. Even though the lockdown is over, I don’t feel like any of my other employees want to physically come in to work. What do I do to get everyone back to work?
AdvertisementStory continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article contentA. Start with a company-wide memo. Pick a return to the office date that provides employees with some time to plan their return. Let employees know about any safety measures you have taken to keep the workplace safe. If you have decided to mandate that your workforce is vaccinated prior to returning, reference that as well. If there is pushback, speak to employees individually about their concerns. Make sure to do this in writing as, like you, many employees are confused about how the next few months will take shape.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Q. I lead a team that has collaborated over zoom during COVID. Sometimes we have themes to our calls (ie: I am flexible about employees taking a walk or cooking during calls). I understand that employees in other teams don’t seem to have the same perk. Is what I am doing allowed or not?
AdvertisementStory continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article contentA. It is easy to see why other employees in the same organization would be frustrated if not given the same flexibility for team meetings. Ultimately, employees are entitled to be treated fairly and consistently as among their peers. If your practice is too far from the norm it may cause legitimate concern in the workplace. Work with your colleagues to create a streamlined approach to team meetings to avoid this.
Q. I have called employees back to work. Most have not had a problem. One has said I am not entitled to call her back into work because she is now used to working from home and I never made it clear that she would have to come back. Can I terminate her or do I have to continue to let her work from home while everyone else is back in the office?
AdvertisementStory continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article contentA. It isn’t clear yet what the courts will do about employees who refuse to return to the workplace when given the opportunity. While it’s true that work was permanently changed for over a year, the circumstances were exceptional giving employers little time to plan or prepare for workplace changes. I would take this time to document your request for your employee to return and when. Set clear expectations. Given the tricky nature of this particular situation, legal help is likely a good idea.
Have a workplace question? Maybe I can help! Email me at sunira@worklylaw.com and your question may be featured in a future article.
(The content in this article is general information only and is not legal advice)
Share this article in your social network AdvertisementStory continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! Comments Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notificationsâ€"you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.
0 Response to "CHAUDHRI Future cloudy for employees employers after working remotely"
Post a Comment