Can a company ask you to use your vacation hours on company shut-downs.?

Question

Our company has two shut-down with in the year .The first one on Aug,and the second one on Dec. So we have to use our vacation hours to cover for the companys shut-downs. If people use their hours for a real vacation ,that they plan by them self then it is going to count against you.

Answer 1

Yes, they can because they are not necessarily required to offer vacation time. If they will allow you to work an extra hour every week like my office does, then this might help you to keep some of your actual vacation time and apply the additional hours to the shut down days that your company has.

Answer 2

I hope you have a union.
Ask your union and go by their answer. the company will try to take advantage of you any way they can. Without a union, a company can get away with all kinds of thing. Asking you to take your vacation hours or days on company shut down is unreasonable. You saved them, you should be able to use them as you wish. Of course the company has to replace you, and has to call in someone and pay them overtime when you use a vacation day. so they would like to prevent that.
Good luck

Answer 3

It all depends on the state law. I for one have had this happen to me, and I told them I will not use vacation time for this. The thing is though, you wont get paid for the 2 weeks that they are shut down.

But some states may allow you to collect uneployment benifits for that week.

Just check with the unemployment office for your state.

Answer 4

If you are in the US, NO! If the whole company / plant is closed for ANY reason and you are able to work they can not force you to use your vacation for that time. You are entitled for unemployment. Even if it is a planned/annual shutdown.

Contact your state department of labor ASAP.

Answer 5

I imagine the writer is a US citizen so I could not answer. Consult your Union Representative whatever country you are in.