Is there a limit?

[1Grasshopper]

What is the name of your state?Illinios

I have been required to mow the yard at an apartment that my boss owns, he also has me pick up his lawn clippings and take to the dump, along with painting, working on the furnace, plumbing,electrical, appliances, and putting down weed killer. He says he can do this because he is incorporated.I know the argument, as long as you are getting your regular pay why complain? But I would like to know if he can do this legally?He says it's part of my job since I am the Technician/delivery driver/ maintenance person. I was hired as a technician, but over the period of ten years I have been threatened with lay off, reduction of hours , reduction of pay if I didn't want to do both job classifications. I have been required to "fill in" when ever the boss has lost a driver, but know I'm being required to do both full time jobs.He complains that I'm not doing enough of one job or the other, it just depends on which one I'm spending more time on. It's a no win situation.

 

[cbg]

Yes, he can legally ask you to mow his yard, pick up his clippings, or do anything else he chooses to as long as it is both legal and safe by OSHA standards. As long as he gives you advance notice, he can reduce your pay; unless you have a bona fide contract that says otherwise, he can reduce your hours. You can be asked to fill in for any other employee.

It is legal for him to have unrealistic expectations of how much you can do in the time you are there.

The only thing I can think of is that IF your technician position is paid as exempt AND IF enough of your time is spent on clearly non-exempt duties, he may have to start paying you overtime. Other than that, I see no recourse for you other than to look for another job.

 

[1Grasshopper]

Is there a limit

I thought Lincoln freed the slaves? Why is it then that he is the only one that anyone has heard of that does this. I rhought that it would have to be a reasonable request, and if this is, then why isn't it more wide spread?

 

[Beth3]

Slave? Let's see. You're being paid, you're free to quit this job any time you like, your spouse and chidren aren't being sold to others so that you'll never see them again, you aren't being brutalized...

If you don't like what you're doing, then find another job. That's your right.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Congratsulations!!!

Your post has been chosen by the FA Board of Directors as a Gold Entry into our 2004 Most Stupid Post of the Year contest.

To find out of you have won the Grand Prize, please check back on Jan 1, 2005.

 

[1Grasshopper]

I should have figured that you would make fun of that expression, instead you prefer to side-step the main issue.Why is he the only boss that anyone has heard of require this from his employees. If it was a reasonable request then more employers would have there employees wash and polish their cars, take care of their lawns, do their dishes, or any other "job" that they want done. You do not know the situation. Jobs are not that easy to get anymore, so it is easy to tell someone that if they don't like there job to quit. I like the job that I was hired for, the people that I work with, but I don't think people should have to be bullied to be kept from getting a raise, or to do a job that he can't keep anyone on, because of all the requirements that they must follow and the treatment that they receive. So,maybe I should have said treated like dogs, but you still would have side stepped the whole point and made a wise crack about that. So , again I ask if this is legal then why isn't it more wide spread? In my 50 some odd years in the work force, a couple of different job classifications, work in union and non union states and I have never known any boss require an employee to do this. With working for a business supply company,I can see being required to maintain the shop,deliver the products that we have,do setups of furniture and cubicles,maintain company vehicle,stock the product,pick up tha trash, take cardboard to the recycle center,vaccum the floors, clean the shelves, do the plumbing in the shop,put products together that need to be assembled, work on the furnace, air conditioning, or carpentry, I am to help everyone else lift and load but am required to move the same pieces by myself, and perfrom my duties as a copier technician which means work on anything and everything that has to do with a business of any kind,and you are telling me that he can require me to do his personal property and his rental properties.I suppose that it would be legal for him to require me to polish his shoes, wipe his nose and wipe his butt. and lets see why don't I tuck him into bed also. Yes, I get paid my hourly wage for it, like I said, I know the arguement that at least it's a job, at least you are getting your pay for it, which is the lowest in the industry.You are telling me that there is no limit as to what an employer can require you to do in the work force then why is there any questions as to what is legal if they are able to do whatever they want to do with their employees?????

 

[cbg]

No one said it was reasonable. As to why more employers aren't doing this, it's because it's not going to be the most cost-effective way of handling employees for most employers.

But no one said it had to be reasonable to be legal.

No. There is no limit to what an employer can ask an employee to do, as long as it is legal and safe by OSHA standards.

If you don't like that answer, you are free to pay an attorney to give you the same advice.

 

[1Grasshopper]

Thank You, that's all I ask for!

 

[cbg]

And that is exactly what you were given - in my intitial post.

Next time, if you insist upon your exact words being used, say so.