Off Site Meeting

DBunger

We are having what we call an "Employee Recognition Dinner" for our employees. At this dinner awards are given out and work related topics are discussed (not much but some)however, it is required that all employees attend. Am I right in assuming that because this is "not" voluntary that we need to count this as "hours worked".

Thanks in advance,
Nikki

Cindy Hanna

Yes. When our company makes it mandatory for a meeting we always pay the employees for their time.

HRsage

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but would that paid time also include travel time since the meeting is off-site? I know my company pays travel time and meeting time for off site meetings, but I'm not sure if that is required by law. I'm in CA so I'm guessing it is.

jimlegal

I agree that you have to pay the employee to attend the mandatory meeting. In your subsequent post you mentioned that your company pays for travel time to meetings, if so then I would expect that travel time to this mandatory meeting be paid as well. Treat this mandatory meeting as if it were any other business meeting. Follow your company policies and you should be fine. It is when you deviate from the routine treatment is when most have a problem. Wish you well with your situation.

ray a

Greetings, Nikki. I'm in the Binghamton area, south of you. Many of my in-laws live in Oswego... but I won't hold that against you. x:-)

Later this year we will be having a big dinner to recognize our 5 year employees. Obviously, there will be some shop talk. I need to check this out for myself.

Don D

I would think the recognition meeting with dinner is adequate to get a turnout and would not make it mandatory. People will turnout and support this if you put enough into it to make it fun plus you feed them. No drinks though. Caution on that.

ray a

>I would think the recognition meeting with dinner is adequate to get a
>turnout and would not make it mandatory. People will turnout and
>support this if you put enough into it to make it fun plus you feed
>them. No drinks though. Caution on that.

My thoughts exactly. My only concern is the President will be the MC and he is a great public speaker and knows it. When people don't attend his meetings, he gets a bit upset. So, if a few people decline the invitation, I can imagine I will be told to tell them it is mandatory. Our annual directors Christmas party is held 6 hours away at corporate, some of us did not attend the previous year for various reasons, this past year we were all told if we expected to keep our jobs, we will be there. It was said in half jest... but you never know.

Definitely no alcohol, though.

Don D

That's the sad part Ray. I too have worked 'for' people who have some real positive thoughts about themselves and their attitude at such events is that the plebes are there to entertain them and kiss the ring and such. Tragic. Would be great if he would just attend and let someone with a slightly smaller ego handle the details, and the MC role. The wife of our CEO is personally offended when people don't attend her annual picnic. The people who choose not to attend make that decision, frankly, based on the fact that she WILL attend and orchestrate. It's always been that way in certain situations......Nero throws a great party; however, never forget that you are there to entertain Nero.

Leslie

If we have mandatory meetings less than two hours those off the clock receive two hours show up time. If longer, time for the duration of the meeting.