How Working from Home Could Ruin Work-Life Balance

The Coronavirus pandemic has resulted in many “non-essential” employees losing their jobs. However, if you are lucky enough to still be working, you are most likely working from home. One recent study found that around 40% of workers can work remotely. Although there are certainly some benefits to working from home (pets make great co-workers!), the national shift to remote work could have a negative impact on work-life balance for years to come. Additionally, as many companies transition to majority-remote work for the first time, some employers could be in violation of off-the-clock work laws. 

Work-Life Balance While At Home

Last month, an employee survey administered by Eagle Hill Consulting discovered that “about 45% of workers said they were burned out” after working from home since the pandemic hit this country. When your home becomes your office, it’s difficult to have clear boundaries surrounding when work ends and personal life begins. Your employer could email or text you at any time day or night. Additional challenges exist for workers with kids who are now homeschooling. Workers with children have the additional burden of balancing work life, children’s schooling, and their personal lives all at once. Even when the pandemic is over, remote work may become our new normal. For example, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that he predicts that half his staff will work remotely within the next 10 years. As employers transition to remote work, they may be in violation of certain employment laws. 

Off-The-Clock Work & Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is also negatively impacted when employees are not paid properly. An increasingly common issue for remote workers is off-the-clock work. Even if you are working from home, hourly employees MUST be paid for all hours worked. So, if your boss emails you at 9 PM to complete a task, you must be paid for the time that you worked. Even if you are working outside of normal business hours, hourly employees must be paid for all hours worked. Furthermore, eligible employees MUST receive overtime pay for any hours worked in a given workweek over 40. Your overtime pay rate should be time and a half your usual hourly rate. If you think your employer is not paying you correctly, you should keep a detailed record of all hours worked from home. Then, you should seek legal assistance so that you can recover your rightfully earned wages. 

Seek Legal Assistance Today

If you have not been paid your proper wages while working from home, seek legal assistance today. The Working Solutions Law Firm, located in New York City, can assist you. Contact us today at (646) 430-7930 to schedule a free case evaluation and receive experienced legal counsel.