Can an employer force you to check emails from home while you are off? 05-13-2009

Ann Kiernan replies:

If they do, you are not off, you are working! If you are a non-exempt (hourly) worker, you are entitled to be paid for all of the time you spend reading and responding to emails while you are on vacation or otherwise not at work. If you are an exempt (salaried) employee, you are supposed to be paid your full week's salary for any week in which you do any work. You may want to check with your local wage and hour office or consult with an employment attorney to see if you are owed back wages. Good luck!

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