I am a salaried exempt employee. I have been told that my work hours have changed and will have to work Monday-Friday 8am - Midnight and Saturday and Sunday 8am-10pm for the next 3 months. Do I have any rights to refuse these hours?

Your employer has the right to change your schedule and require you to work these hours. If you refuse you can be disciplined, including termination.

Aren't they setting up employees for failure though. Forcing someone to work 104 hours a week for 2 months leads to burn out, negative attitudes and mistakes at work. Isn't there anything I can do even if they terminate me?

Frankly, no.

I fully understand what you are saying and do not necessarily disagree. However, the fact remains that legally an employer can require you to work whatever hours they need you to work and discipline you, up to and including termination if you refuse.

What state are you in? There is just a handful of states that require that you receive one day out of every seven off. It does not limit the number of hours you can work in the six other days and it does not say that you have to get every seventh day off; even in those states you can work up to 12 days in a row and still be in compliance. But it's something to look at.

Thanks for your quick responses, I live in Florida. I am trying to take this up with HR and I can not resolve the issue then I will just leave the company.

Burn is a very serious issue and yes, it has been shown to reduce productivity and quality and safety of work.

It is being looked into and some states are ruling out mandatory overtime.

It is just going to take some time, especially with the economy still on a rebound, many people are willing to do just about anything to get and keep a job.

I'm sorry, but Florida is not one of those states which requires one days rest in seven.

Sue, to the best of my knowledge no state has as yet outlawed mandatory overtime. Do you have different information? (I'm not arguing; I'm asking a question in case I missed something in my HR journals.)

I am a salaried exempt employee. I have been told that my work hours have changed and will have to work Monday-Friday 8am - Midnight and Saturday and Sunday 8am-10pm for the next 3 months. Do I have any rights to refuse these hours?

You might consider approaching this from a "Human Rights" violation issue. It's a long shot but a little surfing might offer some insight.

Just a thought.
M.B.

I'm sorry, but Florida is not one of those states which requires one days rest in seven.

Sue, to the best of my knowledge no state has as yet outlawed mandatory overtime. Do you have different information? (I'm not arguing; I'm asking a question in case I missed something in my HR journals.)


Hi CBG--sorry it took so long to get back to you - my daughter had major surgery last week and i was gone all week.

In answer to your question, check out this link on some states that are BANNING MANDATORY OVERTIME for certain professions:

http://www.afscme.org/publications/action/una042_4.htm

Thanks, Sue. Hope your daughter is okay.

Hi CBG, thank you, she is doing well.

As far as the banning of mandatory overtime, it's a GREAT thing being done.

I think we all know how overworked those in the Healthcare industry are; we just experienced it firsthand last week in they way of botched medication orders, mixed up readings by nurses on doctor's orders and an array of mistakes.

It seems the nurses spent more time on the computer than taking care of patients which leads me to beleive they are doing much more than they bargained for, and are needed for. Just my two cents worth! :)