Garrison, Levin-Epstein, Fitzgerald & Pirrotti, P.C. Partner Josh Goodbaum was featured in an April 7 article in Law.com’s Connecticut Law Tribune focusing on cutting edge legal issues that are likely to arise from the global spikes in telecommuting during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can read the full piece here.
Josh explained that, with many employees not working in the state where their employer is physically located, two questions will become increasingly important: which law applies to remote workers, and where can they pursue legal action if their rights are violated.
Speaking about a 2021 Connecticut Appellate Court opinion, Josh said, “[the sex discrimination plaintiff] from 2011, until she was let go in 2016, worked almost exclusively in New Hampshire. She was [only] expected to work in Connecticut every six to 10 weeks. Was she employed in Connecticut or New Hampshire? Could she have sued her employer in New Hampshire, rather than Connecticut? This is a question we will run into a lot, especially with COVID.”
Much like everything else in the COVID-19 era, this is a new issue many judges will be tackling for the first time. In other words, these questions don’t yet have settled answers.
Josh has written extensively about employee rights and discrimination on our Employee Rights Blog, including answering many of the COVID-related questions that Connecticut employees are likely asking themselves during this unsettling time.
The lawyers of Garrison, Levin-Epstein, Fitzgerald & Pirrotti, P.C. have been advocating for employee and civil rights throughout Connecticut for more than 40 years. From our offices in New Haven, we provide award-winning representation in all aspects of Connecticut employment law.