Can international travel be required?
An organization that I am aware of has downsized a US department so that it could off shore reporting to India. In the past, the staff from India had come to the US for training. Now, after the downsizing, the the leadership team wants to "require" that US employees go to Mumbi for training. The remaining staff feels that it is unsafe to travel there and refuse to go. The leadership team then said that it wants "volunteers" and if someone does not "volunteer" then people will be selected. Does anyone have any quidance on a situation like this? Thanks.
Comments
An organization that I am aware of has downsized a US department so that it could off shore reporting to India. In the past, the staff from India had come to the US for training. Now, after the downsizing, the the leadership team wants to "require" that US employees go to Mumbi for training. The remaining staff feels that it is unsafe to travel there and refuse to go. The leadership team then said that it wants "volunteers" and if someone does not "volunteer" then people will be selected. Does anyone have any quidance on a situation like this? Thanks.
[/quote]
If you cannot show that the requirement to travel violates your rights (e.g., OSHA requirement to safe workplace, ADA accomodation, etc.) Then you can be required to travel. Of course, this doesn't mean "required" as in "under penalty of death", but they can certainly use discipline for failure to travel as required. You don't have much recourse. Requiring international travel, in the big scheme of things, is no different than any other change to your duties and responsibilities, all of which are generally rights reserved by management in your handbook and supported by law.