niggle

Is this legal what they're proposing at work?

At my job I work third shift 11pm-7am Sun-Thurs. Some people want to work from 6am-2pm on Sunday morning instead of 11pm-7am once a month.

Management has stated that it's a majority decision. I personally voted no, but I don't care that much about it, but a few of my co-workers do. They believe management doesn't have the right to do that. Others say its not right for a few people to overrule the majority.

For the record, we have 11 people working in our particuliar area, but we have three people particuliarly upset about it. I'm not happy, but I don't care all that much. I'm guessing that the majority wants to do this, but I'm not absolutely sure.

Any ideas?

scarmig

Why would it be illegal?

It may not be *smart*, if it causes disruption in the workplace, but I can't think of any reason at all it wouldn't be *legal*.

niggle

One person said they can't make you work on Sundays. I have no idea if that's true. Sounds like a bloody blue code law to me if true.

Again, I think the idea sucks because I usually sleep during that time. (I should be asleep now.) But I know I can easily adjust if given enough warning.

wildernesse

I don't think Sunday is a protected day on the calendar. My father certainly has worked it on many occasions here in the Bible Belt, and he's not self-employed.

I've worked Sundays many times for businesses. It's not a holiday, so it doesn't rate overtime either if it falls within a normal work week.

--tibac

Stephen Maturin

There isn't any federal law that prohibits an employer from requiring employees to work on Sundays. I don't know a thing about Minnesota employment law, but there's a sure-fire way to find out. Go to a mall or supermarket on a Sunday. If it's open for business, you've got your answer. Come to think of it, the company already has you working on Sundays, right?

If you or your co-worker would like an authoritative answer, y'all can contact the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry by email from this page.

Of course, if you're a union member, this issue is likely governed by the terms of the collective bargaining agreement between the union and the company. If you're working under an employment contract, the contract document may have something to say. If neither of those options applies, you're probably an employee at will, which means the company can do whatever it jolly well pleases so long as it stays within the bounds set by state and federal law.

Viti

Check your employee handbook...usually you agree to work whatever hours are required....Sundays are not exempt. Hell, some states, like Alabama don't even require meal periods.

Lynn of the Prairie

Good posts above. If you don't have a union contract and your state department of labor or whatever they call it doesn't regulate this they can do it. Federal Law requires overtime over 40 hours be paid to Fair Labor Standards Act covered employees which is everybody but management and professional. But I do not believe it covers how that 40 hour week must be distributed as long as break periods are permitted. Good luck. Maybe you guys should consider organizing a union. If you contact your central labor council they could hook you up with an international union that would establish an organizing committee under them and work with you on getting it going. Good luck.