Glendale Employment Attorney Explains If an Employer Can Add Duties Without Compensation

When an employer asks a worker to take on more responsibilities but does not offer to increase their pay, the worker might wonder whether their legal rights have been violated. Can an employer add duties without increasing compensation?

D.Law, an employment law firm in Glendale, CA, explains whether adding duties without increasing compensation could be grounds for an employment rights case. They also explain what employees can do when faced with this situation.

Can an Employer Add Duties Without Adding Compensation in Glendale?

Generally, it is not inherently unlawful for an employer to add duties to an employee's workload without increasing their compensation, according to D.Law. California is an at-will employment state, meaning an employer can change an employee's job description or terminate their employment at any time, for any reason, as long as they do not violate legal employee rights.

Increasing an employee's responsibilities without promoting them to a higher-paying position is often referred to as a "dry promotion." It is a common way for employers to reduce costs while moving trusted employees into higher positions.

Instances When Adding Duties Without Adding Compensation Might Be Grounds for Legal Recourse

While increasing duties without increasing pay is generally not unlawful, there are a few instances where this may be grounds for legal recourse:

• The employee is under an employment contract that clearly defines their duties. If a worker has signed an explicit employment agreement detailing their job duties, the employer may need to renegotiate this contract if they want to place additional job responsibilities on the worker. Otherwise, they might breach the contract.

• The new duties require an hourly worker to work more hours. Hourly workers are generally entitled to fair compensation based on the number of hours worked. If the new job responsibilities require the employee to work more hours, they should be compensated for those hours.

• The employer has changed the employment terms based on discriminatory reasons. If an employer has increased a worker's duties out of retaliation or due to discriminatory reasons, they might be in violation of California employment law.

How an Employee Can Respond to Unexpected Job Description Changes in Glendale

When an employer adds duties without compensation, the worker might feel they have no control over the situation. However, D.Law's employment attorneys in Glendale, CA, suggest a few measures they can take, even if their employer has not violated employment law:

• Request that the employer detail the new job duties in writing. This gives the worker proof that they are being asked to increase their responsibilities for no additional pay.

• Ask for a promotion. The worker can try talking to their employer about elevating their job position and pay to better account for the new workplace expectations.

• Take the new responsibilities elsewhere. If all else fails, the worker can add the new responsibilities to their resume and look for another job that adequately compensates for those duties.

About D.Law

Can an employer add duties without compensation? Generally, yes, though the answer depends on the circumstances of the job change.

D.Law represents workers across Glendale, CA, experiencing violations of their employment rights. Whether an employee is facing disputes over overtime pay, wrongful termination, or workplace discrimination, D.Law can provide legal guidance.

For more information, interested parties can contact D.Law at 818-275-5799.

Contact Information:

Davtyan Law Firm, Inc.

400 N Brand Blvd 7th Floor, Glendale, CA 91203
Glendale, CA 91203
United States

Emil Davtyan
(818) 875-2008
https://d.law/