Can you be fired for refusing to do a job you weren’t hired to do?

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Can you be fired for refusing to do a job you weren’t hired to do?

Asked on August 6, 2015 under Employment Labor Law, Kansas

Answers:

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

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

Yes you can. That is unless making you do the new job violated the terms of an employment contract, union agreement, company policy, etc. Also, if the new job required special training and not having it would put you or others at risk for their safety or the like, then you would not have to do it. The fact is that most employent relationships are "at will".  This means that an employer can set the terms and conditions of the workplace much as they see fit. For their part, an employee can either comply with the work requirement, quit or face termination.

Note: If your treatment was due to some form of actionable discrimination, then you would have a case.

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

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

Yes you can. That is unless making you do the new job violated the terms of an employment contract, union agreement, company policy, etc. Also, if the new job required special training and not having it would put you or others at risk for their safety or the like, then you would not have to do it. The fact is that most employent relationships are "at will".  This means that an employer can set the terms and conditions of the workplace much as they see fit. For their part, an employee can either comply with the work requirement, quit or face termination.

Note: If your treatment was due to some form of actionable discrimination, then you would have a case.


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