“Best of 603” Names Primmer to List of ‘Best Bankruptcy’ & ‘Best Criminal Defense’ Law Firms
During COVID-19 we saw a rise in remote work enabling employees to perform their job functions from home while adhering to the pandemic “stay at home” restrictions. Post-pandemic, remote work remained a dominant trend globally.
Will we ever return to the way things were?
Some studies indicate a recent return to in-office work shift. Companies including Amazon, Dell, and Walmart have implemented return-to-office policies mandating many of their corporate employees to return to the office full-time. Similarly, in January of 2025, President Trump ended remote work for federal employees and ordered that they return to full-time, in-person work.
In Vermont, we have also seen a recent shift in return-to-office policies. Recently, Governor Phil Scott announced that he planned to end remote work arrangements and that starting on December 1, 2025, state employees would have to return to the office at least three days a week.
While some employers shift back to an in-office work routine, many employers continue to recognize the benefits of remote work. An employer that avails itself of remote employees will benefit from a larger demographic of candidates resulting in an expanded talent pool from which it can hire from. Remote work also allows for greater flexibility which contributes to employee satisfaction and overall greater retention rates for an employer. Decreased overhead costs from savings related to commercial space, furniture, and equipment can be an additional benefit for employers.
Other employers have shifted from remote work to a structured hybrid model, mandating some in-office days. This structure allows for the “best of both worlds” and combines the flexibility of remote work with the added balance of in-person collaboration.
Primmer saw a surge of legal claims around the complexities of remote work employment relationships during COVID-19. Those claims have continued and require a nuanced response to limit legal exposure. Please contact us with any questions.
