Can my employer force me to perform volunteer work after normal work hours?
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Can my employer force me to perform volunteer work after normal work hours?
My employer mandated a thirty hour community service, and while in the performance of his/her directive I was involved in a vehicle accident city vehicle with a citizen. I was later informed that I was not work in the scope of my duty assignment.
Asked on May 27, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Georgia
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Yes, an employer can force their employees to volunteer after normal work hours. Further, if an employee fails to comply with such a mandate, they can be terminated (in fact they can be discharged for this reason, any reason or no reason at all). This called "at will" employment. In such a work arrangement, a company can set the conditons of the workplace much as it sees fit. This is true unless such an action violates the terms of company policy, an employment contract or union agreement. Also, it must not constitute some form of legally actionable discrimination.
That having been said, if the employee is exempt they are not entitled to additional compansatrion, however if they are non-exempt they are entitled to be paid for thier volunteer time.
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