Baseball is often referred to as “America’s pastime,” but for some baseball fans, it may double as worktime. While employers have long known that workers occasionally play hooky to attend afternoon ballgames, viral videos and photos now show employees openly using laptops in the stands, raising legal and compliance questions for employers managing remote work.

Quick Hits

• Employers face challenges regarding employee productivity and efficiency when remote workers choose unconventional work settings, such as sports stadiums, which can be distracting and complicate compliance with labor laws.
• Security risks may arise from using public Wi-Fi networks at sports venues, exposing sensitive company and client information to potential breaches.
• Clear remote-work policies and security measures can help employers manage the complexities of hybrid work arrangements.

Why Employees Are Working Remotely From Stadiums

Baseball, perhaps more than any other professional sport, features matinée games during typical business hours. Employers are probably familiar with employees playing hooky to attend such afternoon games. But with new communication technologies, increased access to Wi-Fi in public areas, and a rise in hybrid and remote-work arrangements since the pandemic, it has become easier for employees to “work” from a variety of locations, including ballparks, which might not be conducive to productive work.

And though some may have declared remote work dead, as employers...

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