Fox Broadcasting Faces Class Suit On Covid Remote Work Expenses

Fox Broadcasting Co. LLC required California employees to cover their own business expenses while working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic, a class suit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleges.

Between March 2020 and present, Fox employees incurred home office expenses required for performing work-related duties, including internet and electricity, the complaint says. Employees were also expected to use their own cell phones for work-related duties, they allege.

While shelter-in-place and work-from-home orders were in place in California, Fox maintained a policy of not reimbursing for those expenses, which ranged between $50 and $100 per month for each employee.

The lawsuit seeks to represent a class of approximately 1,000 employees who worked from home when offices were closed for at least one pay period since March 2020.

Causes of Action: Failure to reimburse for business expenses; Unfair Competition Law violations;

Relief: Declaratory relief; restitution; costs; attorneys’ fees.

Response: Fox didn’t immediately respond to Bloomberg Law’s request for comment Thursday evening.

Attorneys: Ackermann & Tilajef PC and Employment Rights Law Group APC represents the class.

The case is Torres v. Fox Broadcasting Co. LLC, Cal. Super. Ct., No. 22STCV06823, 2/24/22.