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Wage Theft in healthcare — remote worker being told to relocate or resign

Started by need_help_student_OH · Jun 4, 2024 · 1,469 views · 11 replies
For informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
NH
need_help_student_OH OP

Has anyone dealt with something like this? I'm not sure what my options are.

remote worker being told to relocate or resign. I've been dealing with this for about 8 weeks now and the situation isn't improving.

I have worked at this company for 7 years. My position is exempt and I do not have a written employment agreement beyond the standard offer letter.

Do I have a strong case? What should my next steps be?

NL
NursePractitioner_LA

I've seen this play out several times in my field.

What worked for me was having everything documented. It took 3-6 months but was worth it.

EM
EmploymentLaw_Mike Attorney

I've handled similar cases. Here's my take on the legal issues.

The legal framework here involves both federal and state law. At the federal level, the FMLA. Your state may provide additional protections.

One important thing — there are strict deadlines for filing these claims. Don't wait too long.

CM
ContractorMike_CA

Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.

The biggest mistake people make in this situation is escalating to a supervisor/manager. I'd recommend following the formal complaint procedure instead.

CB
confused_buyer_OH

Have you tried reaching out to your state's bar association? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

CT
CryptoTrader_2023

I went through almost the exact same thing.

I ended up escalating to a supervisor/manager, which cost about $1-3 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

HM
help_me_employee_IL

This happened to me too. Have you tried filing a complaint with the relevant agency? In my case they investigated and it got resolved without needing a lawyer.

PN
Photographer_NYC

Been there. Here's what I learned.

In my case, it took about 4-8 months to resolve. The key was filing with the appropriate government agency.

TA
TenantRights_Advocate

Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.

In my case, it took about 4-8 months to resolve. The key was filing with the appropriate government agency.

CM
ContractorMike_CA

Been there. Here's what I learned.

I ended up filing with the appropriate government agency, which cost about $4-8 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

DS
DevOps_Seattle

Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.

The biggest mistake people make in this situation is escalating to a supervisor/manager. I'd recommend following the formal complaint procedure instead.

FT
first_time_driver_today

I work in this industry and unfortunately this is very common. The good news is that when people actually push back with legal representation, companies usually settle.

RK
RemoteWorker_Katie

My employer just issued a return-to-office mandate: relocate to Austin or resign within 60 days. I was hired fully remote during COVID and my offer letter says 'Remote.' Can they force me to relocate? If I refuse and they fire me, is that constructive dismissal?

EM
EmploymentAtty_Mitchell Attorney

@RemoteWorker_Katie — If your offer letter explicitly states 'Remote' as your work location, the employer is attempting to change a material term of your employment. Whether this constitutes constructive dismissal depends on your state and the specific facts, but the argument is strong. Key considerations: (1) Was 'Remote' a condition of your acceptance? (2) Is the relocation mandate company-wide or targeted? (3) Does your employment agreement allow the employer to change work location? (4) Many states consider a forced relocation of more than 50 miles to be good cause for unemployment benefits. Document the original offer letter, any communications confirming your remote status, and the relocation mandate. If fired for refusing, file for unemployment immediately and consult an employment attorney about wrongful termination.