I work for a hotel in California as a night auditor. The owners of the hotel I work for has a another hotel right beside it. The two hotels are different franchises. Recently, they hired a night manager who handles both hotel properties. However, to minimize the chances of him having to cover the desk when an auditor calls in sick, he wants to cross train the night auditors from the two hotels-- to cover the other hotel when someone calls in sick, or is on vacation.

I feel that he is trying to take advantage of the situation. I feel that I don't have to cover for someone at the other hotel property when he/she calls in sick, or is on vacation because when I applied for this position my understanding is that I'll be working only for this particular hotel. My responsibility as an employee is only for this particular hotel that I'm currently working for. Nothing was mentioned when I was hired that I will have to cover for someone at another hotel.

What are your thoughts on the above? Is the manager violating any labor law(s) in the state of California pertaining to the above? If he is, what labor article or section can I present to him? Please advise. Thanks.

No. Your employer has the right to cause you to perform an assignment, so long as it doesn't violate a law, such as discrimination (where you are being singled out due to your protected class, such as your race, religion, gender, national origin, age, etc.); if the law is a violation of safety regulations; or if you are not covered under a collective bargaining agreement which does not permit such actions.

Unfortunately, at this point, without any of those factors, you will need to comply with your employer's requirements.

Let us know if we can answer additional questions for you.