Employer Selectively Denies Telecommuting

[SpeedRacer350]

I was a star performer at a large tech company in Kansas City. I then had to move to California for personal reasons. I politely asked if I could telecommute and from home. They said no. A month or two later, I found out that another employee there moved to Las Vegas and was allowed to work from home.

Is this some type of discrimination? Could I have taken any legal action?

 

[Silverplum]

I was a star performer at a large tech company in Kansas City. I then had to move to California for personal reasons. I politely asked if I could telecommute and from home. They said no. A month or two later, I found out that another employee there moved to Las Vegas and was allowed to work from home.

Is this some type of discrimination? Could I have taken any legal action?

No, it's not illegal. No, it's not discrimination. No, you had no potential legal action.

http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/

 

[eerelations]

Discrimination is only illegal if it's based on things like race, gender, religion, age (if you're over 40) and disability. If you have good solid evidence that your employer denied your telecommuting request solely because of something like this, then please tell us what it is.

 

[SpeedRacer350]

Thanks all. I am older (over 40), of different sex and race than this other younger person. But I don't think that has anything to do with it.

It just seems that there are a zillion crazy employment laws protecting people. This situation has screwed up my life, it doesn't seem fair, and it really angers me.

 

[Silverplum]

Thanks all. I am older (over 40), of different sex and race than this other younger person. But I don't think that has anything to do with it.

It just seems that there are a zillion crazy employment laws protecting people. This situation has screwed up my life, it doesn't seem fair, and it really angers me.

You moved away from your job and they did not retain you as a telecommuter: I don't see that as a situation for Big Anger. But perhaps I'm missing something.

I've moved and never expected my employer to do a thing except mail my last check.

 

[SpeedRacer350]

SilverPlum- You're right. I think the thing I'm most mad about is what forced me to move in the first place. But other people were allowed to work remotely from out of state, and that irks me too.

 

[commentator]

Fair it's not. Legal it is.

 

[cbg]

Maybe they're finding that telecommuting isn't working for them and while they're not stopping the ones already doing it, they're not permitting any more. Maybe they only allow x number of telecommuters and they're at that max. Maybe they only allow it for some positions and you're not in it. Maybe they think you're more valuable in the office. Maybe a lot of things. The bottom line is, telecommuting is not a right and if they don't want to allow it, they don't have to.