Can a company require an employee to do volunteer work on company time?
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Can a company require an employee to do volunteer work on company time?
I work for a company who has signed up to help a non-profit organization. While, I like volunteering on my time, I do like being forced to do so. Can my job force me to volunteer at this organization (even through its paid and doing our business hours).
Asked on May 18, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
If you are being paid for the charitable/non-profit work, then yes, your company can force you to do it: your employer, not you, determines what is and is not part of your job, and may add, change, modify, etc. your duties at will--including making you support a non-profit organization. (The exception would be if you had an employment contract specifying or delineatiing your duties; if so, the terms of that contract are enforceable.)
What the company cannot do is make you volunteer your time--if you are required to do work, you must be paid for it.
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