Can my employer require 50% travel if this is not the original job I was hired for?

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Can my employer require 50% travel if this is not the original job I was hired for?

My manager just told me that I have to spend 50% of my time moving forward traveling in part of my territory. I cannot be gone this much due to my spouses’s travel schedule as we have small kids. I would like a severance package if this change is made.

Asked on October 2, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Washington

Answers:

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

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

Do you have an employment contract or union agreement prohibiting this? Does such a change violate company policy? Is there some form of actionable discrimination involved? If the answer is no to all of the above, then I'm afraid that your employer is violating no laws here. The fact is that most employment relationhips are "at will". This means that an employee can choose to stop working for an employer when they see fit. However, this also means that an employer can hire/fire and change the terms and conditions of the work relationship at its discretion.

As for a severance package, again this depends on any contracts or agreements that exist.


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