CALIFORNIA — IBM workers reaffirmed their victory in California court yesterday when the State Supreme Court upheld an appellate court ruling regarding reimbursement for work-from-home equipment.
The case came about after California Governor Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home public health order was issued in March 2020. IBM employee Paul Thai and others requested reimbursement for internet access, phone service, headsets, and other work-from-home materials and were denied. They filed a class action suit against the company in December 2020.
IBM workers score legal victory in suit over work-from-home expenses
The initial judge ruled for IBM, however, in July of this year the California 1st District Court of Appeal overturned the ruling in a 3-0 decision.
“To accomplish his duties, he required, among other things, internet access, telephone service, a telephone headset, and a computer and accessories,” judges wrote in the appellate court decision.
Dozens of companies are facing similar lawsuits from employees, including Oracle and Bank of America.
