Timeline for Can I get in trouble for smoking on a video call while working from home?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
5 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2020 at 9:29 | comment | added | paul | I have no idea about the legal aspects here but the company is requiring people to work from home. Does their duty-of-care suddenly stop? It might go against common sense but my guess is they want to cover themselves. | |
| May 29, 2020 at 8:22 | comment | added | DRF | @KevinWells As much as it seems absurd working from home at least in some jurisdictions comes with stupid amounts of caveats. We had to have all employees sign papers saying that they had adequate seating, and all kinds of other stuff at home when they were on Home Office during the Covid snafu. One of the main reasons we are careful about allowing HO is exactly because the employer is liable for tons of super stupid stuff. You make your own coffee and spill it on yourself and it's a work accident. | |
| May 29, 2020 at 7:00 | comment | added | Logan Pickup | @KevinWells This isn't that far-fetched. Many companies are liable (either due to penalties under law or in terms of insurance) for actions their workers take while "on the job". This clearly includes the company premises themselves, but workplace health and safety laws (as an example - if they don't apply in your state then insurance regulations probably do) have evolved to include field work (e.g. linesmen) and also working from home. HR might be simplifying the case they're presenting, but they undoubtedly are aware of the laws/regulations they need to adhere to. | |
| May 28, 2020 at 18:46 | comment | added | Kevin | Tons of people who work at my office go on smoke breaks, and while they obviously go outside to do it they certainly wouldn't be allowed to sue the company if they got sick because of it. What possible standing could someone have for suing a company due to their own choice to smoke in their own home? | |
| May 28, 2020 at 14:27 | history | answered | paul | CC BY-SA 4.0 |