Well considering where you live ie Nebraska, It probably very legal. I'm not against Nebraska, in fact most of my relatives hailed from there, I know Mom, Dad, a sister and a brother were born there. I'm just pointing out that Nebraska isn't, how shall I say this, very progressively endowed.
I don't know what state you live in but New York is what they call an "employment-at-will" state (or something like that) which means that, without a contract or union to protect you, an employer can hire or fire you any time they want for any reason (assuming it is not discriminatory in any way, in which case the burden of proof would be on you to show discrimination).
So the question(s) would not be whether it's legal, it would be more along the lines of how badly do you need the job and how likely are you to suffer any ramifications of not attending this event?
It's the same thing as a mandatory donation. United Way is famous for it. I'm sure they must have explored all the legal aspects of it by now or they wouldn't continue the practice.
This isn't uncommon in most work places these days... I don't doubt that some sorta tax write off might not be involved with this... But is this really a bad thing when you think about it? I don't think so. I think it raises community awareness, gives your employer some good PR, and might give you a life-experience you haven't had before. Maybe you can suggest other volunteering options to your manager, if the opportunity presents itself. I hear your concerns about CHOICE but still... what is it exactly that's so bad about this?
Im not sure about Nebraska but my state has a Department of Labor or Employment or some such thing that you can call with legal questions reagrding work situations.
Its in the Blue Government Pages at the front of the phone book. Either that or call the Attorney General's Office. they should either answer you or refer you to the Department that will.
Sounds like the Way Corps to me. We were called "volunteers" but we were voluntary slaves.
But I don't think it's illegal if they can get away with it. The employers can always manufacture another reason to get rid of those who choose to object to their "volunteerism."
But I don't think it's illegal if they can get away with it.
Except that the brainiacs put it in writing
Only those on vacation for the entire week of this event will be excused from volunteering". So it's not volunteering, it's mandatory.
Anybody know whether this is legal or not?
If you WANT to volunteer thats one thing, but if your employer requires you to be there I would think that he is required to pay you....thats common sense.....but.... I dont know the laws in Nebraska
If you were my employee, Id want you to come just for show of your own free will if you could -- but if I absolutely needed you to be there or if you were doing any work while you were there I know I would pay you because legal or not thats just fair.
Im curious to hear what the Nebraskas AG's office has to say on this.
Since this apparently is a business promo and PR move to the community the business should expect to accrue some legitimate business expenses doing it.
If you feel strongly about it, I wouldnt let them weasel you out of it.
If you dont want to go, dont beat around the bush--
My co-worker calls it "voluntold"...which pretty much sums it up.
I'm all for genuine volunteering, but I understand resistance to being told what to do by someone in authority, especially considering our collective experience in twi-dum.
Our manager voluntold our department to sign up for something almost a year ago, which I have resisted by simply "forgetting". I don't know what you can do legally...but a highly contagious "stomach virus" is always good in a pinch.
I don't know what state you live in but New York is what they call an "employment-at-will" state (or something like that) which means that, without a contract or union to protect you, an employer can hire or fire you any time they want for any reason (assuming it is not discriminatory in any way, in which case the burden of proof would be on you to show discrimination).
So the question(s) would not be whether it's legal, it would be more along the lines of how badly do you need the job and how likely are you to suffer any ramifications of not attending this event?
This isn't uncommon in most work places these days... I don't doubt that some sorta tax write off might not be involved with this... But is this really a bad thing when you think about it? I don't think so. I think it raises community awareness, gives your employer some good PR, and might give you a life-experience you haven't had before. Maybe you can suggest other volunteering options to your manager, if the opportunity presents itself. I hear your concerns about CHOICE but still... what is it exactly that's so bad about this?
We had to buy pizzas we couldn't afford for some charity once . . . so the boss could go on a cruise apparently . . . it's bad enough they don't pay you for the first 40 hours of work -_-
I consulted a labor lawyer. It is legal for a company to require this for salaried employees, which I am.
And no, I cannot afford to loose my job over this.
With you getting 4 hours of "comp" time, you aren't exactly volunteering. If you do this during work hours, you're not volunteering at all, you're just working somewhere else.
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bulwinkl
Well considering where you live ie Nebraska, It probably very legal. I'm not against Nebraska, in fact most of my relatives hailed from there, I know Mom, Dad, a sister and a brother were born there. I'm just pointing out that Nebraska isn't, how shall I say this, very progressively endowed.
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soul searcher
I hear you, man. That would bother me too.
I don't know what state you live in but New York is what they call an "employment-at-will" state (or something like that) which means that, without a contract or union to protect you, an employer can hire or fire you any time they want for any reason (assuming it is not discriminatory in any way, in which case the burden of proof would be on you to show discrimination).
So the question(s) would not be whether it's legal, it would be more along the lines of how badly do you need the job and how likely are you to suffer any ramifications of not attending this event?
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waysider
It's the same thing as a mandatory donation. United Way is famous for it. I'm sure they must have explored all the legal aspects of it by now or they wouldn't continue the practice.
My personal opinion
Serve your time FIRST.
THEN raise your objections.
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soul searcher
And do it with a smile! :)
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ChasUFarley
This isn't uncommon in most work places these days... I don't doubt that some sorta tax write off might not be involved with this... But is this really a bad thing when you think about it? I don't think so. I think it raises community awareness, gives your employer some good PR, and might give you a life-experience you haven't had before. Maybe you can suggest other volunteering options to your manager, if the opportunity presents itself. I hear your concerns about CHOICE but still... what is it exactly that's so bad about this?
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mstar1
Im not sure about Nebraska but my state has a Department of Labor or Employment or some such thing that you can call with legal questions reagrding work situations.
Its in the Blue Government Pages at the front of the phone book. Either that or call the Attorney General's Office. they should either answer you or refer you to the Department that will.
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Watered Garden
"Mandatory volunteering" is an oxymoron.
Sounds like the Way Corps to me. We were called "volunteers" but we were voluntary slaves.
But I don't think it's illegal if they can get away with it. The employers can always manufacture another reason to get rid of those who choose to object to their "volunteerism."
WG
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mstar1
Except that the brainiacs put it in writing
If you WANT to volunteer thats one thing, but if your employer requires you to be there I would think that he is required to pay you....thats common sense.....but.... I dont know the laws in Nebraska
If you were my employee, Id want you to come just for show of your own free will if you could -- but if I absolutely needed you to be there or if you were doing any work while you were there I know I would pay you because legal or not thats just fair.
Im curious to hear what the Nebraskas AG's office has to say on this.
Since this apparently is a business promo and PR move to the community the business should expect to accrue some legitimate business expenses doing it.
If you feel strongly about it, I wouldnt let them weasel you out of it.
If you dont want to go, dont beat around the bush--
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tonto
My co-worker calls it "voluntold"...which pretty much sums it up.
I'm all for genuine volunteering, but I understand resistance to being told what to do by someone in authority, especially considering our collective experience in twi-dum.
Our manager voluntold our department to sign up for something almost a year ago, which I have resisted by simply "forgetting". I don't know what you can do legally...but a highly contagious "stomach virus" is always good in a pinch.
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GeorgeStGeorge
Unless it was listed as a condition of employment when you hired on, it sounds like a violation of the 13th Amendment to me.
George
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waysider
I thought this was worthy of repeating.
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OldSkool
I would check with an attorney. I have Pre-Paid Legal. But no matter how you pay it would be a good bet.
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Bolshevik
We had to buy pizzas we couldn't afford for some charity once . . . so the boss could go on a cruise apparently . . . it's bad enough they don't pay you for the first 40 hours of work -_-
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Oakspear
I consulted a labor lawyer. It is legal for a company to require this for salaried employees, which I am.
And no, I cannot afford to loose my job over this.
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Tzaia
With you getting 4 hours of "comp" time, you aren't exactly volunteering. If you do this during work hours, you're not volunteering at all, you're just working somewhere else.
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