What are my rights if I was hired for one job but now expected to add another with no additional pay and hours?

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What are my rights if I was hired for one job but now expected to add another with no additional pay and hours?

I was hired as a part-time administrative associate for a retail company. The job is basically secretarial with work in HR. Now, 3 years into the job, I am being told that now I have to train as a cashier just in case they need me on the selling floor. This would entail going out on the floor working as a cashier, as well as being expected to do my work in the office without an increase in pay and without an increase in hours to accomplish this. I have already been doing the work of 2 administrative associates because of the other part-time administrative associate being on leave of absence. I did not agree to these terms when I took the job over 3 years ago. Is this legal and what are my rights and recourse short of resigning?

Asked on September 15, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Massachusetts

Answers:

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

Answered 7 years ago | Contributor

Do you have a union agreement/employment contract that prohibits this action? Does your treatment constitute some for of legally actionable discrimination (which it does not appear to)? If not, then your employer is violating no labor laws. The fact is that most employment relationships are what is known as "at will". This means that a company can set the terms of employment much as it sees fit. This includes increaing an employee work duties. That having been said, if you are an hourly employee, you need to be compansated for all hours that you work. As for your options, short of quitting or accepting these conditions, your only one would be to complain to your employer but risk termination for doing so.


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