GREENSBORO, N.C. — 2 Wants To Know is digging through the snow to get you answers on winter weather, your job and your employer. David Moff, The HR Group Inc., knows the employee and the employer side.
Let's start with the most asked question: 'If the governor calls a state of emergency, can my employer still require me to come into work?'
"The short answer is, yes. The employer can even fire you or discipline you if you don't come to work. But that doesn't usually happen unless you're already in shaky standing with your employer. If you have called out once a week for the last six weeks, this could do it."
North Carolina is an employment-at-will state. That means your boss can require you to work no matter what it looks like outside. And if you refuse, they can fire you.
And when it comes to claiming unfair business practices, Moff says, "The only recourse you have is if the employer is treating you differently than other employees."
Why do employers call their people into work during snowstorms?
"Some of it is public safety or public needs. Obviously the hospitals and police need to be there, but workers at grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, people need food and medication."
Moff also points out, some are industries that have products that need to meet shipping dates. Besides that, he says, businesses are in the business of doing business.
And for the record, Moff says there is no guideline that says businesses have to call work off at any certain time.
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