Slavery At Work!

[Lorizael]

Not really. But anyways.

If I had a job in Maryland, and I were required to attend a mandatory (mm redundant) meeting, but I (and my coworkers) were not going to be paid for this mandatory three hour meeting that interrupts our regular work schedule, would this be legal?

Also, if the company stated that it were possible for employees to use vacation time for this meeting, but I had been employed for fewer than 90 days and had not yet started to accrue leave of any type, would this affect the legality of the situation?

[Caligastia]

If you're a salaried worker the company can do whatever they want.

[Pekka]

Well, is this like a meeting that happens within your nine to five? If so, then I guess you have to attend. If this happens outside, as in extra work, overtime, and NO pay what so ever.. that's just wrong. Could be and should be illegal.

[Metaliturtle]

if it's mandatory by your work then it is mandatory that they pay you. Unless it's a requirement that was on the application such as:
Must have high school or higher education
That wouldn't need to be paid for, Give OSHA a call, maybe it's different in Maryland than here in WI.

[DinoDoc]

Re: Slavery At Work!

Originally posted by Lorizael
If I had a job in Maryland, and I were required to attend a mandatory (mm redundant) meeting, but I (and my coworkers) were not going to be paid for this mandatory three hour meeting that interrupts our regular work schedule, would this be legal?

Why would you even clock out in such a situation? I'm not even supposed to help a customer off the clock without filling out a time adjustment sheet so I can get paid for that time.

[Pekka]

Yeah I mean, what if you get hurt during those hours? There are lots of problems related to 'mandatory' working that is not included in your contract.

If you have to work outside your contract, well, that's not a go.

[Pekka]

Also remember, if you aren't working for your best friend, why aren't they paying you? You know, that's like saying we'd pay you less if it was legal in the first place as well.

And if that is legal, the meeting thing, they are saying to you that their appreciation is exactly 0 for your efforts. They are disrespecting your skills. They are saying to you we will pay you nothing because we don't have to. So even if that was legal, that would still be a huge NO.

[Lorizael]

Re: Re: Slavery At Work!

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Why would you even clock out in such a situation? I'm not even supposed to help a customer off the clock without filling out a time adjustment sheet so I can get paid for that time.

I'm a contractor. This is an all hands meetings where all the employees of the company are recalled to the headquarters to have this mandatory annual meeting. And this year (my first year here, of course) they've decided not to pay the employees for the meeting.

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by Caligastia
If you're a salaried worker the company can do whatever they want.

Nope. Paid by the hour.

[DinoDoc]

Re: Re: Re: Slavery At Work!

Originally posted by Lorizael
I'm a contractor. This is an all hands meetings where all the employees of the company are recalled to the headquarters to have this mandatory annual meeting. And this year (my first year here, of course) they've decided not to pay the employees for the meeting.

That sounds like bull**** to me. I'd go find the relevent state agency and ask what the law is in this situation though. Maybe Imran knows.

[rah]

For normal employees they would have to pay, but since you're a contractor you're SOL
At least that's what it's like in my state.

[Lorizael]

Do you know why that's the case? I mean, this company, this company having this meeting, is the contracting agency. They sign my paychecks and everything. My contract itself is with a government agency and I obviously don't expect them to pay me for anything.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Sounds fishy to me... you are 'on the clock' because it is a work related meeting you are required to go to. I suggest calling either the state Department of Labor of Maryland or the Wage and Hour Division of the US Department of Labor to find out if this is allowed.

[rah]

It depends on how you're classified. If you're a sub-contractor being paid through the company they can do almost anything they want.

But I'm with Imran, call the state department of labor for clarification.

[Lorizael]

Thanks for the advice, guys. Off to my mandatory, unpaid meeting now!