If I am on approved vacation, canI be forced to come in to work for a meeting?
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If I am on approved vacation, canI be forced to come in to work for a meeting?
I have already started my vacation and there was a quality issue at work so the manager wants to hold a meeting during my vacation. Can I be forced to go?
Asked on November 28, 2011 under Employment Labor Law, New York
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
As unfair as this may seem, yes you probably can be required to attend such a meeting. Vacation time is discretionary benefit; an employer is not legally obligated to provide it. So to the extent that it does, it can set the terms under which it is taken. In other words, if earned and accrued your are entitled to it but when is up to your employer.
Most employment relationships are what is known as "at will". This means that basically an employer can hire/fire someone for any reason or no reason whatsoever, as well has increase/decrease salary/hours, promote/demote, and generally impose requirements as it sees fit. In turn, an employee can choose to work for an employer or not.
Therefore, unless making you come in to a meeting while you are on vacation violates existing company policy, a union agreement or employment contract, it is legal to require you to do so. Also, if this situation has arisen due to some type of actionable discrimination, then you would have a claim.
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