What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia
I received an offer letter from a company stating that I would receive $x/hr and have x vacation days in the 2013 calendar year, which I had to sign and return. My issue is that now that the time is here, I am told that I am being forced to save a fairly large percentage of those days for around the holiday season at the end of the year. Their reasoning is so that we will be paid for the time which the company plans to be closed anyway and is not covered under holiday pay. I questioned the fact and asked why it is that we can not decide ourselves if we wish to be paid for those days and use our vacation time before. I was approached by a higher up who in no uncertain terms stated that this is a right to work state and I can be fired for any reason at any time. While I already knew this, it was pretty obviously a blatant attempt at intimidation. That is not the issue however. My question is this. If I sign my offer letter stating I have x number of days in vacation and am forced to save much of it for the time they already know they will not be open, is that even really vacation time? I know at the very least it is a sleazy practice because there was no mention of it at any time before hire. I know that not all offer letters are contracts etc, but it seems as if this part would be binding. I can understand not being able to use vacation during certain busy seasons etc, but being made to take it when they are already closed anyway? Please advise and thank you in advance!
I received an offer letter from a company stating that I would receive $x/hr and have x vacation days in the 2013 calendar year, which I had to sign and return. My issue is that now that the time is here, I am told that I am being forced to save a fairly large percentage of those days for around the holiday season at the end of the year. Their reasoning is so that we will be paid for the time which the company plans to be closed anyway and is not covered under holiday pay. I questioned the fact and asked why it is that we can not decide ourselves if we wish to be paid for those days and use our vacation time before. I was approached by a higher up who in no uncertain terms stated that this is a right to work state and I can be fired for any reason at any time. While I already knew this, it was pretty obviously a blatant attempt at intimidation. That is not the issue however. My question is this. If I sign my offer letter stating I have x number of days in vacation and am forced to save much of it for the time they already know they will not be open, is that even really vacation time? I know at the very least it is a sleazy practice because there was no mention of it at any time before hire. I know that not all offer letters are contracts etc, but it seems as if this part would be binding. I can understand not being able to use vacation during certain busy seasons etc, but being made to take it when they are already closed anyway? Please advise and thank you in advance!