Can an employer legally force you to take paid leave?

Question

My wife's company is over-budget because the hourly workers have been having to take so much over time due to poor staffing (or mismanaging the schedule). To compensate they are forcing all salaried workers to take Thursday and Friday off and use their paid leave. My wife is pregnant and is saving her paid leave for the pregnancy.

So does the company have a legal right to do this? If not, who should she talk to about this situation?

Answer 1

Paid leave is a benefit, and employers are not even required to give it - if they do, they can make the rules unless there is some kind of contract that spells out the rules. Legally, in pretty much anywhere in the US, they could just cut hours without allowing anyone to take paid leave.

Has your wife asked if she can just take the Thursdays and Fridays now without pay, and save her paid leave for later? They might go along with that, although I'm not sure how that would benefit her.

Answer 2

you need to consult an employment law specialist in your state. Without knowledge of your state law(s) no one on this site can adequately answer your question. Unfortunately, in most states, employers can do as they wish so long as they do not infringe upon what is known as "the protected classes." Like I said, consult a lawyer who specializes in employment law. My guess is the company can do what they are doing but you need someone with the credentials and knowledge of the law to know the answer for true gospel fact.