Do I have to pay to go to a mandatory meeting????

I have a crazy question. I work at a restaurant and we have a mandatory alcohol awareness meeting scheduled that we have to go to. Just like we have all the years before. But this year the county that teaches the meeting is charging 20.00 per person. My employers are saying that we have to pay that money out of our pocket. My question is if this is mandatory wouldn鈥檛 the employer have to pay??? So I asked my boss and he said no we have to pay because this is certification that we can take with us to another job, But on the same had by us getting this certification there insurance drops. So does any one know whether it is legal to make us pay and make us go?

Just like a nurse must pay to get their nursing license you must pay for any license you need to work. It's not the employers job to pay for YOUR licenses. They also will not have to pay you for the time you attend the class since it's a legal requirement for you.

Now if the state does NOT require you to have the license to have your job, but the employer is requiring you to have one, you still must pay for the course, BUT will have to be paid your standard hourly rate for attending the course.

Sorry, but your boss is right. If this is a 'general' certification that can be of use to you at a different job, he can require you to pay for it.

It's just like your drivers license... even if your boss says you have to get one, you still have to pay to do so.

Richard