Let’s say there’s a software engineer in some company. They’ve been working there for a while, everything’s good, they like the work and their employer’s happy. Now there’s a shortage in another part of the company and since they’ve been doing good work, their employer wants them to move to that department/project. However, they don’t want to, because they don’t like the domain/the team/whatever reason. Is the employer allowed to simply say they have to? If they say no, is that a reason for the employer to fire them?

  • makeshiftreaper@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    2 months ago

    Like everything, this gets a lot easier to answer if we know what state/country you’re asking this question in

    Some short answers:

    1. In America outside of descriminating against a protected class (and honestly with this administration I’m not sure that’s a slam dunk win anymore), it’s mostly about if you’re willing to fight them in court/arbitration to determine if what they are doing is legal

    2. The actual work you do is not nearly as important as your title, pay, and responsibilities. If your job title is the same, your pay hasn’t changed, and you still have basically the same expectations, you probably don’t have a case

    3. If they have substantially changed your compensation as a result, e.g. you have fewer hours, your bonus is lower, or your pay is lower then you may have a case for constructive dismissal. Again /c/USDefaultism but this is particularly tricky to get to stick. You effectively argue that your employer fired you without doing so formally. This is a nuclear option that you use to try to claim unemployment so I wouldn’t persue this unless you have a backup plan

    In short, it sounds shitty but from your description it’s likely legal. You can refuse to change and if they fire you for it, it would likely be legal

    • ctrl_alt_esc@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
      1·
      2 months ago

      Thanks a lot for the detailed answer. This is in Europe, but I assume at least some of it still applies and its very insightful!

  • tlekiteki@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    31·
    2 months ago

    Brah the boss asks whatever they want. You work at their pleasure. If they want you to wear a clown on your head, you wear a clown on your head.