Many accommodating employers offer their employees the opportunity to
work from home (telecommute) either on a regular or temporary basis. The
flexibility of a telecommuting arrangement can benefit both employers and
employees. However, the practical realities of allowing a nonexempt
employee to work away from the principal worksite can lead to a minefield
of wage and hour issues that an employer must carefully navigate in order
to avoid potential liability. As telecommuting has become more
prevalent, there have been a number of lawsuits filed by telecommuting
employees (often as class actions) claiming violation of various state and
federal wage and hour laws.