employer sponsored benefits not equal

[WonderingInAZ]

What is the name of your state? Arizona

Is this legal?

Example: The Company HR policy states individuals (all employee classes) are eligible for only 1 week vac. after 1yr of employment. There are several employees who have been given more than one week after a year or even been given vacation time to take within their first year of employment. Is this a fair/legal employment practice? Please advise.

 

[cbg]

Yes, it is perfectly legal, as long as the decisions are not made on the basis of race, gender, national origin etc.

 

[WonderingInAZ]

It just doesn’t seem right. I guess it is best to really investigate a company prior to agreeing to employment, and even then, who knows! It seems that employees really don't have a leg to stand on when it comes down to it (with exception of the discrimination laws- EEOC). Why even have HR manuals if the company's cannot be held accountable to back their own policies (again with exception of the discrimination laws- EEOC)?

 

[cbg]

Sometimes an employee might negotiate more vacation as part of their hire package - I've even seen employees agree to take a lower salary in exchange for more vacation. Sometimes higher level employees are given a better benefits package as one of the "perks" of management.

Nothing in the law says that every single employee has to receive exactly the same benefits; only that what benefits they receive can't be based on the basis of a protected characteristic, and that if an employee qualifies for a benefit under the company's eligibility rules they have to be offered the benefit.