Is it legal for an employer to require you purchase their product as part of you employment?
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Is it legal for an employer to require you purchase their product as part of you employment?
I work for a newspaper company and they have sent a notice saying it is required for me to subscribe to their newspapers at a employee discounted rate. Is this legal? Do I have to subscribe?
Asked on April 8, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
Yes, actually this is legal. An employer can set the terms and conditons of the workplace much as it sees fit; this includes requiring an employee to purchase a company product. This is known as "at will" employment. For their part, an employee can comply with their employer's request, complain and risk termination, or quit. The foregoing holds true unless such an action violates an employment contract or union agreement. Also, the employee's treatment must not constitute some form of legally actionable discrimination (which it does not appear to).
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