is this legal? if there's a mandatory evacuation, can your boss tell you to stay? not sure what the policy is there, but a family member of mine is facing this decision. obviously the decision is easy, but she shouldn't have to use vacation time to evacuate, should she? maybe i'm just spoiled because i work for UT and they accomodate for every situation, but still...
are you kidding? most companies will try to keep good will. but many can't. its a business, they can't pay you if they are not bringing in any money that day. this is a non-issue.
I dont think there is any kind of LAW that states employers cant make you stay, but depending on what type of business it is if there's a mandatory evacuation they should have to close to let people leave. Where does she work? When I lived in SE TX whenever there was an evacuation it wasnt even an issue if i had to work or not, we were all GONE!
As a small business owner myself, I would hate to be put in this situation. Being a small business means I can't afford many benefits for my employees. I try to make it up by giving them days off when they need it or letting them off early or filling their gas tank once in a while, etc. I would'nt be able to pay 3 or 4 people a weeks pay, however, I would do my best and pay them what I could because it isn't their fault. A very tuff situation to be in to say the least.
Oil, Chemical, hospitals, emergency service type industries all could have a legitimate need to hold people in order to make preparations to their facility. I happen to be in one of those industries. I suppose you have to expect it to some extent.
Just like family leave under the FMLA, you can't be fired for leaving under a voluntary or mandatory evacuation order, but they don't have to pay you either... see chapter 22 of the Texas Labor Code: tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/LA/content/htm/la.002.00.000022.00.htm
