Can You Get Fired For Not Working Overtime?

Question

I work for a company.....i work from 5-5 some and probably most days. The regular time would be 7-3. If I couldnt work overtime, could i be fired from the job? Can they really do that?...That wouldnt really be fair or right. Could this company be in trouble for firing a worker becasue he or she couldnt work overtime? But the problem would be that this State is "At Will". How could you prove that they had fired you becasue you couldnt work overtime? I read the company's employee orientation packet and stuff. And it didnt say that overtime is Mandatory. I thought Overtime was Optional

Answer 1

Yes. It's called mandatory overtime.

I quit a job because of mandatory overtime. A family member of mine was in the hospital, and I wanted to drive home and be with him. No one else would switch weekends with me. Management was insistent that I work, so I quit. Had I not quit, I would have been fired.

Answer 2

First of all where are you from? There are many different places in the world with many different rules and regulations that control workers' rights. In Canada I know that if you work more than 44 hours per week your employer is required to pay you time and a half but it is optional. Unless you agreed to work these hours when you first got the job, you are not required to work overtime...this is why there are workers rights/responsiblities acts.

Answer 3

All that most states require is extra pay for overtime, but the employer can still require it ( although a few states do not even mandate extra pay). They can terminate most people for most any reason ('at will' employment) unless you have a contract or are union (which does have general contracts for its employees).
If the forced overtime results in illness, it is better to take sick time as in some states it is harder to terminate an employee for illness . . . but most jobs are still 'at will' so chronic absenteeism can be grounds to terminate.

Answer 4

If it's "at will" it's just that. You have no contract and no rights specific to work. I mean they still can't harrass or discriminate against you but they can dismiss you whenever they wish, change your schedule, simply ask you not to come in again without firing you and give you no hours. Whatever they feel like. The supposed benefit/flipside of "at will" employment is that you can quit at any time for any reason. They cannot sue *you* for breach of contract or seek damages if you walk off the job mid shift even. Not much of a tradeoff for normal people though except it's nice to have a job at all even if it sucks.

Answer 5

It is possible, even though not "right", that an employer may fire you for not working overtime in an At Will state. You'll have to talk to your supervisor to be certain.

Answer 6

You shouldn't be fired for not working over time. Most companies would rather you not work over time because they don't have to pay you the extra money

Answer 7

Sometimes OT is mandatory. But most companies do not fire you for that. You can look at the labor laws to see what your options are.

Answer 8

They wouldnt have to fire you for not working overtime, they could simply fire you for not being able to do your job. In wich staying late would be considered doing your job.

Answer 9

"At Will" means you have a job at the will of the employer. As long as you aren't canned for a forbidden reason like race, sex, etc....yup, they can sack you.

Answer 10

in Virginia, no, you cannot be fired "legally". we are also "at will". the employer would be liable for unemployment and maybe disciplinary actions depending on the circumstances.