Is it legal for your boss to fire you for not attending unpaid off-hours training?
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Is it legal for your boss to fire you for not attending unpaid off-hours training?
I worked hourly part-time at a place for several years. I used to attend unpaid training sessions but stopped when I no longer learned anything. My boss said I could lose hours if i didn’t go to training in an email, when I asked if training was mandatory I received no response and was fired. Is this legal?
Asked on February 2, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, New York
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
First, all work time is compensable. That means that you must be paid for it. As to that part of your situation, you seem to be moving in the direction, namely filing a wage claim with the department of labor. With respect to your termination, unless you had an employment contract or union agreement to the contrary, you were an "at will" worker which means that you could have been fired for any reason or no reason at all, with or without notice. Bottom line, absent legally actionable discrimination, a company can set the conditions of work much as it sees fit.
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