Forced Vacation Day From Work

[cantretire]

This is why being a drone in a cubicle in a large company sucks.

But most put up with it out of fear. When the economy turns around, these same companies will lament that none of their employees are "loyal" and they have to offer all these inducements to get new hires or keep the ones they have left. It's a viscous cylce that keeps getting more viscious.

Quite true.

OP: I don't think that forcing you to take a vacation on the day the office is closed is illegal, just 'not nice'. Every state has different laws so you'd have to look yours up.

If you're salaried, they can work your 120 hours and get away with it.

That said, the job market is horrendous. Keep your job as long as you can. If it goes under, hopefully you'll get a good severance. I've been out since January, with no hope of anything happening before fall.

[snafu]

OP, eventually the economy will improve so I suggest it would be a good idea to use this time to prepare for other employment. Start identifying all your skills and how they could be of benefit to other employers. If you need to take a couple of courses or try-out some new tasks to expand your skills you could be viewed as an employee to be retained. Update and polish your resume, your interview skills, and start 'networking.' Let everyone you know of your desire to change jobs and enjoy 'new challenges.' Whatever you do, don't mention anything negative about your current employer, that shuts all the doors! Go to those 7 am breakfast meetings if possible to meet more of the business community.

During the boom when DH was 'salaried' management, he and his peers worked a minimum of 60 hours a week, off the clock. It is the culture in many organizations and called 'pay your dues.'

[akrogers]

So true Snafu. I sometimes have a bad attitude about it because I am just doing this corporate thing until I finish up my MA, and let me tell you I can't wait (finish up next year). Although I haven't been happy where I am, it is absolutely a learning experience and an eye opener to the way that so many people in our country make a living. I need to keep my head up and get through it until I am finally able to be self employed and/or have the luck to do something artistic and free-spirited for money- I can dream :-p

[Lonewolf]

I would trade one vacation day in a heartbeat vs the 10 unpaid "holidays" that I have to take throughout this year. Its a tough economy and company's are taking big steps to do what they need to in order to keep afloat. I agree from my vantage point it seems to hurt my pockets more then theirs, but I'm happy to be employeed when so many are not.

[red92s]

Also, my company has recently told us that if we are needed beyond our 40 hours and don't work overtime (without pay) then we will be seen as
not team players" and can be let go.

As a salaried employee, I don't know why anyone would expect to be compensated on an hourly basis for working overtime. I work the hours hours required to meet my obligations at work. Sometimes that's less than 40 hours a week, sometimes it's more, sometimes it's much more.

[Brad VanGuard]

This could be a way of your company taking their frustrations out on the employees. I don't think it's right. I understand that you'd be a little concerned to approach your boss about this.