Can I refuse to attend a mandatory meeting on my off time if I’m not getting paid?
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Can I refuse to attend a mandatory meeting on my off time if I’m not getting paid?
I have a mandatory meeting to attend and when I told my employer who has a discrimination charge against her that I won’t attend unless I’m being paid, she will not respond. Do I have the right to refuse
to attend for lack of compensation?
Asked on January 27, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, Ohio
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
The fact is that employees must be paid for all work related activities/duties and this includes mandatory meetings. If you are not properly compensated for attending such a mandatory meeting you can sue your employer is small claims court and/or file a wage claim with your state's department of labor. However, if you do not attend this meeting, then you can be terminated. In fact, in an "at will" work relationship you can be fired for any reason or no reason at all, with or without notice. That is unless you have protection here under the terms of a union agreement/employment contract or your treatment constitutes some form of legally actionable discrimination.
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