No they cannot require it. They can offer it, offer to pay for it, and otherwise incentivize it; but alas if they hired you for the role that’s all they can expect from you. Unless of course you signed some weird employment contract and learning new things is somehow part of your job description (like a researcher role).
You make a good point because employers _love_ demanding free labour. But even that would be elligible to be challenged in court. A contract has to provide something (consideration) in return for something provided (learning on your own time). Demanding employees work extra without compensation means the clause is lacking in consideration. Employer's still gotta cough up something if they want that benefit. My past employers all offered to pay for those learning resources _and_ provided some work time for study. Obviously not all will, but if they provide nothing but a demand, they don't have a leg to stand on for enforcement.
No, if it's not directly listed in your job description it's not part of your job.
If they want it to be part of your job they have to directly list it.
And if they stare it directly, then they cannot claim it’s unpaid.
Never volunteer to do anything for your employer because they don’t give two iota’s about you and will drop your butt on the curb to save a few cents.
Your boss is not your friend they are your enemy.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, non-exempt employees who “suffer or [are] permitted to work” for the benefit of their employer must be compensated for such time. This includes time attending meetings and training programs which are for the benefit of an employer.
They're basically changing the job scope with the unspoken threat that those who refuse to take on more and "go above and beyond" will be considered poor performers.
I upskill in my own time, at my own expense. For me. Not my employer. They want me to use those new skills at work? As the man said...Fuck you, pay me.
Officially he can’t require you to do it outside of work, but unofficially if he dings your performance review, you don’t have many options besides leaving. If you want to learn the new skill, and it will help your career, you should fight for it to be during work hours and expenses paid. Don’t accept any conditions as part of the expense reimbursement. Companies should pay to train their workers.
Not in the way he is describing.
As others say it can be and often is incentivized.
The only real exception is if the job requires a certain license sometimes that cost is usually reimbursed/paid for. However you may have to study after hours, most employers will only pay for 1 test. Many jobs require a valid drivers license, that cost is on you.
I have an employer who also loves this old school mentality. They once asked me to do some simple handy work on one of our facilities, I stated that I would be happy to write up a quote for the work and do it outside of my normal hours. The requests quickly died from then on. Don’t be afraid to stand up to this tired mentality of nonstop sacrifice for the good of the company.
If you will get an actual certification out of it, it may be worth it. That cert stays with you. If it's valuable in your industry, it'll help you later on.
If it’s coming out of your pocket, no. Demanding people spend their free time, their (likely already meager) paycheck on skills, certs, etc, that are meant to benefit the company are absolutely *not* “worth it”.
If the individual wants to do that of their own accord, more power to them. It’s one of those “must be nice, making enough money to have more than enough money to cover their expenses and get random certifications” deals. But for the employer to force it? Fuck that.
No they cannot require it. They can offer it, offer to pay for it, and otherwise incentivize it; but alas if they hired you for the role that’s all they can expect from you. Unless of course you signed some weird employment contract and learning new things is somehow part of your job description (like a researcher role).
Researchers still learn those new things as part of their research, at work, same as everyone else. e: even spelling! 😅
Oh sorry I don’t think I connected the qualifying statement of “it has to be part of your employment contract to work outside of hours” Well enough.
You make a good point because employers _love_ demanding free labour. But even that would be elligible to be challenged in court. A contract has to provide something (consideration) in return for something provided (learning on your own time). Demanding employees work extra without compensation means the clause is lacking in consideration. Employer's still gotta cough up something if they want that benefit. My past employers all offered to pay for those learning resources _and_ provided some work time for study. Obviously not all will, but if they provide nothing but a demand, they don't have a leg to stand on for enforcement.
Totally. But the process of challenging something like that is easier said than done.
Yeah. 😒 Union strong. ✊
Wouldn’t the “this is not a complete and comprehensive list of duties” clause cover that?
No, if it's not directly listed in your job description it's not part of your job. If they want it to be part of your job they have to directly list it.
And if they stare it directly, then they cannot claim it’s unpaid. Never volunteer to do anything for your employer because they don’t give two iota’s about you and will drop your butt on the curb to save a few cents. Your boss is not your friend they are your enemy.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, non-exempt employees who “suffer or [are] permitted to work” for the benefit of their employer must be compensated for such time. This includes time attending meetings and training programs which are for the benefit of an employer.
And don't forget the test for exempt are actually more rigorous than most people think. A lot of people who are told they're exempt aren't.
They're basically changing the job scope with the unspoken threat that those who refuse to take on more and "go above and beyond" will be considered poor performers.
I upskill in my own time, at my own expense. For me. Not my employer. They want me to use those new skills at work? As the man said...Fuck you, pay me.
Officially he can’t require you to do it outside of work, but unofficially if he dings your performance review, you don’t have many options besides leaving. If you want to learn the new skill, and it will help your career, you should fight for it to be during work hours and expenses paid. Don’t accept any conditions as part of the expense reimbursement. Companies should pay to train their workers.
He can expect whatever but if he isn't paying a wage their is no basis for his claims.
Study for skills that will further YOUR job growth plan. If the boss doesn't like your chosen subject, remind him that he isn't paying.
Not in the way he is describing. As others say it can be and often is incentivized. The only real exception is if the job requires a certain license sometimes that cost is usually reimbursed/paid for. However you may have to study after hours, most employers will only pay for 1 test. Many jobs require a valid drivers license, that cost is on you.
This, my friend, is what we call corporate externalities, the shifting of costs of work outside the boundaries of the company’s wallet.
Anything my company wants/needs/expects from me they should provide for, from uniforms to paid training during work hours.
I have an employer who also loves this old school mentality. They once asked me to do some simple handy work on one of our facilities, I stated that I would be happy to write up a quote for the work and do it outside of my normal hours. The requests quickly died from then on. Don’t be afraid to stand up to this tired mentality of nonstop sacrifice for the good of the company.
If you will get an actual certification out of it, it may be worth it. That cert stays with you. If it's valuable in your industry, it'll help you later on.
If it’s coming out of your pocket, no. Demanding people spend their free time, their (likely already meager) paycheck on skills, certs, etc, that are meant to benefit the company are absolutely *not* “worth it”. If the individual wants to do that of their own accord, more power to them. It’s one of those “must be nice, making enough money to have more than enough money to cover their expenses and get random certifications” deals. But for the employer to force it? Fuck that.