Mandatory Staff Meeting at a Charitable Event??

[Laurielle1968]

Is it legal for an employer in Michigan to schedule a mandatory staff meeting at a charitable event (Relay for Life)?? (Our meeting was supposed to take place during the opening ceremonies.) My employer did this and it was boycotted by the all 25+ employees. She has mentioned people getting fired over this "mutiny" because it was a MANDATORY meeting. This event was not held at our work place and it was not during normal business hours (7:00 PM on a Friday night). It WAS going to be a paid meeting, but I need to know if it's legal for her to do this or to fire someone for not attending. We have a staff meeting on 6/29/05 and any information about Michigan Labor Laws would be GREATLY appreciated. She's really out of control. Thank you!

[LConnell]

Geez - great manager. Nevertheless, she can terminate one or all of you for not attending the meeting. The only possible exception is if it could be seen that all of you raised the issue, making the group of people participated in concerted activity, protected under the National Labor Relations Act. She can terminate you all for not coming to the meeting but she cannot terminate you for all of you complaining about it to her.

[kakers]

Are you telling me that an employer can mandate that an employee attends a charitable event? (that the employee may or may not support). That seems to be the same as an employer mandating that employees attend a service at a specific church or a specific political party event. Wouldn't the "meeting" need to be work-related to be considered mandatory?

[LConnell]

There is a major difference between mandating attendance at a church vs. attendance at a charitable event. In the first situation, it would be considered as a potential violation of anti-discrimination laws on the basis of religion.

Your employer can mandate your attendance at any event, assuming it does not violate laws such as discrimination against age, race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, etc.

Any directive that your employer gives you can be considered as mandatory, unless, of course, it is a violation of law.

[clutch2]

This is an old thread but if the charity supports organizations that your religious beliefs object to, isn't it the same thing as being ordered to a Church service?

Clutch2

[cbg]

It would depend on what was taking place at the charitable event.

And yes, this is a very old thread.