My secretary recently returned from maternity leave.She was a 40+ hours a week position before her leave,and now tells me she wants to work part time.She has also indicated to me she would rather be laid off so she can collect unimployment.This employee has also told me what days and times she is going to work.My question is this,am I obligated to comply with her demands,or do i have the right to set the times and days she works.I also wonder if since she indicated to me she wanted part time employment if I have the right to deny her request due to the fact that I hired her as 40+ hours a week

She can request to work part time. You can either grant the request or deny it. You are the boss. You set the schedule.

If you deny her request, she, in turn, then has two choices; she can quit and find other part time employment, or she can work the hours you set for her.

"Laying her off" by her request is called quitting, and she doesn't get unemployment for that.

The employee does not call the shots, you do. If you need her to work 40 hours per week and she decides she will not, then she has, in fact, quit (she will not have been "laid off"). Don't let her push you around. Sheesh, where do employees get the idea that they can set their own schedules and change their own working conditions? :eek: