ElbowGrease
08-08-2008, 11:12 AM
I work for a small company in Cambridge, MA that manages a 24 hour website. Every year they like to have a party for the almost 100 person team. This year the party will take place at one of the company owners homes about an hour and 15 minutes away from the office, outside of the city not near public transportation. They have hired busses to ship everyone out and drop off until the end of the day. The party will be catered, beer and wine, swimming, games and such. Sounds fun but for my own reasons, I’d rather not attend. I am perfectly happy staying at the office to work.
Today I was told that they are closing the office and if I do not participate, I have to take vacation time. I am a salaried employee. If the office is closed why do I have to take a vacation day? I was told by our HR manager that it's a team building event so that's why I have to take a vacation day. Is this common for most places when they want to liquor up the staff??
Last year they had rented a local club for a party to take place in the evening, after the normal office hours closed. That sounded great and was very excited. The morning of when we arrived at work, management went running around saying the office was closed and we were going on a scavenger hunt throughout the city… for the whole day before the party that night. Honestly, it could be a great thing if some advance warning had been given. I could have worn the proper attire and could have not scheduled work with clients. I simply stated that I was just going to stay and work but was told the office was closed. I was then told if I didn’t participate in the scavenger hunt, my team would be disqualified. So I participated.
Since I was treated like a 3rd grader and forced to participate, I chose not to go to the party that night. Although MY team won with my help, I did not receive the iPhone prize because our CEO was acting like a first grade teacher.
Now this year he is forcing us to take a vacation day when the office is closed??? Is this appropriate? Is it legal?
Today I was told that they are closing the office and if I do not participate, I have to take vacation time. I am a salaried employee. If the office is closed why do I have to take a vacation day? I was told by our HR manager that it's a team building event so that's why I have to take a vacation day. Is this common for most places when they want to liquor up the staff??
Last year they had rented a local club for a party to take place in the evening, after the normal office hours closed. That sounded great and was very excited. The morning of when we arrived at work, management went running around saying the office was closed and we were going on a scavenger hunt throughout the city… for the whole day before the party that night. Honestly, it could be a great thing if some advance warning had been given. I could have worn the proper attire and could have not scheduled work with clients. I simply stated that I was just going to stay and work but was told the office was closed. I was then told if I didn’t participate in the scavenger hunt, my team would be disqualified. So I participated.
Since I was treated like a 3rd grader and forced to participate, I chose not to go to the party that night. Although MY team won with my help, I did not receive the iPhone prize because our CEO was acting like a first grade teacher.
Now this year he is forcing us to take a vacation day when the office is closed??? Is this appropriate? Is it legal?
