Legal Question in Administrative Law in California

Can a supervisor require you to take classes in order to give a raise?

In my performance review I was told that I would not get a pay raise due to the fact that my supervisor insisted that I take classes to enhance my performance. I have not been required to take classes in the past and I have been there about 11 years. When I informed my supervisor that it was not possible due to the fact that I am often behind in my work usually putting 10 hour days I requested to have another person help me because the work load is alot. My supervisor said that my other satisfactory performances did not count. Does this supervisor have the right to deny a raise?


Asked on 7/23/08, 4:14 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Bryan Whipple Bryan R. R. Whipple, Attorney at Law

Re: Can a supervisor require you to take classes in order to give a raise?

Yes, absolutely! Continuing education is a requirement to continue working in many professional areas, including law. Lawyers have to take 25 hours of classes every three years. Miners have to take safety classes mandated by the Bureau of Mines, and so on. Here, you're not required to take the classes in order to keep working in your field, but only to advance. That's a very reasonable request. The only exception I can think of would be if you were under a union contract or some other kind of agreement that guaranteed you the raise and did not also mention on the job training or taking classes.

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Answered on 7/23/08, 11:05 am
Terry A. Nelson Nelson & Lawless

Re: Can a supervisor require you to take classes in order to give a raise?

Unless you're in a union [and you wouldn't be posting this kind of question here if you were], you have no 'right' to a raise, or to a job. Employers determine the standards they expect of employees. If you don't like this employer, you can seek another. Remember, you are an 'at will' employee that can be fired at any time for any or no reason, other than for actually 'illegal ' purposes.

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Answered on 7/23/08, 1:39 pm


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