Mandatory meetings outside of my scheduled shift
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Mandatory meetings outside of my scheduled shift
I work 2 jobs. My part-time job has a mandatory meeting once a month, always when I am on shift at my other job. I am being told to take an hour break from my main job when I am allowed a half hour break to do the meeting for my part-time job. I am trying to see if it’s legal for them to demand that I attend the meetings when I am working another job.
Asked on May 27, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, New Jersey
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Yes, scheduling a mandatory meeting outside of your regular shift is legal. That is unless this action violates the terms of an employment contract or union agreement. Otherwise your employment is "at will" which means that your company can set the conditions of the workplace much as it sees fit (absent some form of legally actionable discrimination). The fact is that if such meetings interfere with your second job is of no concern to this employer. Accordingly, if you do not attend, you can be discharged. In fact, a worker can be fired for any reason or no reason at all, with or without notice. At this point you will either have to re-work your schedule with your other job, or miss the meetings but risk termination, or quit.
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Yes, scheduling a mandatory meeting outside of your regular shift is legal. That is unless this action violates the terms of an employment contract or union agreement. Otherwise your employment is "at will" which means that your company can set the conditions of the workplace much as it sees fit (absent some form of legally actionable discrimination). The fact is that if such meetings interfere with your second job is of no concern to this employer. Accordingly, if you do not attend, you can be discharged. In fact, a worker can be fired for any reason or no reason at all, with or without notice. At this point you will either have to re-work your schedule with your other job, or miss the meetings but risk termination, or quit.
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