Question regarding salary and unpaid holidays

Serendipitie

My boss is trying to force us to take Memorial Day off. We do not get paid for Memorial day. Two years ago, we were able to work that day in order to not take a vacation day, and last year they gave us the day off with no impact to our pay or vacation. This year my boss is closing the office and telling us we have to submit a vacation request. I do not have any vacation to take because I already have my summer time off planned. Can she literally force me to take the day off via vacation or without pay? I was planning on working. I am a salary employee. Does anyone know? Or know of a resource I can call and ask?

10YearsTogether

Could you call corporate and find out without letting them know it's you that's asking? That sucks!

JD 2 B

10YearsTogether:

Could you call corporate and find out without letting them know it's you that's asking? That sucks!

I like this idea. Do they have like an anonymous line for HR, etc? I know our company has one

Serendipitie

I am trying to find one, but I am uncomfortable speaking with my internal HR because she is buddy buddy with my boss, to the point of being inappropriate

JD 2 B

Can you just call the corporate office and ask for HR?

Serendipitie

I did find the phone number and email for the Corporate HR person - I guess I will try calling her at lunch My fuukcing job sucks

10YearsTogether

I just found out that someone I'm very close to has been taking forced vacations.  She can't go in on Fridays and she's been using her vacation hours to get paid for those days.  Once her vacay hours run out, she will no longer get paid for them.  So I am guessing that yes they can do this, legally.  Unless all these comanies are breaking the law, but I would be surprised if that were the case.

Bummer.

Serendipitie

D - is she non-exempt or exempt? I know my friend was an hourly non-exempt person and she had to take vacation for office shutdowns, but everything I am reading says that if I am willing and able to work, and I do any work that week, I must be paid for that day. Where it gets fuzzy is the use of vacation/PTO

Serendipitie

I was just offered the option to take a sick day. I'll take it

nabum

in the future, this is a great reference:

 http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41441

 

yeahimcat

D, I believe your example is different from what A is asking if your friend is not going in for personal reasons.

A, you need to call corporate. I believe you should not have to use any paid time off.

10YearsTogether

Cat - I should clarify.  She is able, ready and willing to go to work.  She was just told that they have to take Fridays off, and would need to use PTO or vacation days for those days if she wants to get paid for them.  It's a hybrid arrangement as far as her salary.  APparently she is an hourly employee, but is guaranteed a 40 hour workweek, and is classified as an exempt employee because of that.  When her PTO and vacation hours run out, she will just not get paid.

 HR is some complicated stuff and I don't really get it.

Dipite did you get a response?

Serendipitie

I didn't feel like fighting about it, the economy and H's layoff and all. I never use my sick days, so I'm okay with a sick day even though I think it's totally fuucked up. So I have a three day weekend now! Wheeeee!