Work From Home Policies: Legal Boundaries with Flexible Schedules

The air-tight rule of most companies in the past was that an employee was offered one of two types of positions:  either full time or part time.  As families are sharing child caring responsibilities, these employees are demanding something different.  Employers have discovered that they can't just say "no" because another employer down the street is saying "yes."  Companies saying "no" are finding themselves losing good valuable candidates to their competitors.  And, laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act are now requiring employers to consider flexible working arrangements if such does not impose an undue hardship on the organization.  What are the different types of flexible working arrangements and the legal issues arising out of such arrangements?  When do the benefits outweigh the risk of litigation?  When does litigation outweigh the benefits? 

This presentation will provide real life issues with solutions for your workplace.  It will cover how to draft a good flexible working policy and what legal issues you should address.

This program will provide answers to these important questions:

• Types of flexible working arrangements, including but not limited to job sharing, flex-time; compressed work weeks, etc.
• Benefits to utilizing flexible work arrangements.
• Problematic practical concerns when considering flexible work arrangements in your workplace. 
• Benefit issues for the "perma-temp" flexible working relationship
• Joint employer issues for the "perma-temp" flexible working relationship
• Telecommuting as a flexible work arrangement (one of the most controversial)
• Telecommuting as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA
• Why attendance may not be considered an essential job function
• Privacy and confidentiality concerns arising out of telecommuting arrangements
• What a good telecommuting policy should include

Who Should Attend:

• Senior HR Professionals
• HR Managers & Directors
• Attorneys
• HR Personnel
• Employee Relations Professionals

Susan Fahey Desmond

Susan Fahey Desmond is a partner with Jackson Lewis, LLP, which has offices in over 54 cities across the United States. She has been representing management in all aspects of labor in employment law since 1985. She is listed in Best Lawyers in America and has been named by Chamber USA as one of America’s Leading Business Lawyers for labor and employment law. She is also listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers and Louisiana Super Lawyers.