Can an employer force you to work past scheduled shift end?

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Can an employer force you to work past scheduled shift end?

I work for a retail for and was scheduled for inventory from 6:45 pm to 4:00 am. When the schedule was created I told my manager that I needed to leave at 4:00 am so that I could get to my other job. At the time she said okay and that it wouldn’t be a problem. She even said that we might be done by then. Well when I asked to leave, she said that I couldn’t. I reminded her of the conversation and that I explicitly told her that I needed to get to my other job. She asked when I would be done with my other job so that I could come back. However, I am not scheduled to work for another 2 days. I told her that I wasn’t available for the rest of today and that she didn’t remember the conversation. I told her that I still needed to go. She looked very annoyed but said fine that I could leave. She then made me wait another 20 minutes to let me out. By this point I sought out another manager to let me out. Is this allowed? I fear some short of retaliation. Due to rumors from past employees.

Asked on August 26, 2019 under Employment Labor Law, Illinois

Answers:

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 4 years ago | Contributor

Unless your treatment violates the terms of an employment contract or union agreement, you have no claim here. The fact is that most work relationships are what is known as "at will". This means that a business can set the conditions of the workplace much as it sees fit (absent some form of legally actionable discrimination). Accordingly, your employer can require that you work past the end of your schduled shift, no matter what else was said to you. Further, if you refuse you can be suspended or even terminated. Actually, you can be fired for any reason or no reason at all, with or without notice.

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 4 years ago | Contributor

Unless your treatment violates the terms of an employment contract or union agreement, you have no claim here. The fact is that most work relationships are what is known as "at will". This means that a business can set the conditions of the workplace much as it sees fit (absent some form of legally actionable discrimination). Accordingly, your employer can require that you work past the end of your schduled shift, no matter what else was said to you. Further, if you refuse you can be suspended or even terminated. Actually, you can be fired for any reason or no reason at all, with or without notice. 


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