employment law--help needed!!!!

[sam100]

We have a company xmas party coming up where we work and were recently sent a letter to tell us about it..on the letter it says that the business will be closed from lunchtime on the day of the party....
email senior management to ask if we will be getting paid if we go to the party or if we dont get paid and the reply was that you get paid if you do go to the party but you dont get paid if your not going...apparently we have to take as a half day, holiday or unpaid. There was no mention of pay on the letter and no one has said anything to us- i asked off my own back.

Could someone give any information as to if this is legal and the best way to deal with it?

Many thanks in anticipation...

[Ethel]

Is the party during normal working hours or is at an evening do?

[sam100]

its normal working hours...

[antiguru]

I think you can see where Ethel was going by asking you this question.

I suspect they have taken legal advice to get to this point, so challenging it would be a little pointless.

[Ethel]

It seems fair to me - you stay in the workplace for the hours you are legally contracted to be there, and you get paid.

The fact that they are paying you to party is a bonus.

:)

[sam100]

thanks for the replies...however the afternoon that it is is an afternoon that i normally work so i am actually loosing out by not getting paid as the company is being closed not out of my choice therefore should i not get paid?
I suppose my argument would be that i would be happy to work and get my work finnished rather than go home early or go to the party so that i dont have to panic over xmas that the works not done.

[Didwot]

An employer generally has the right to tell his employees when to take their holidays, so the general answer to your question is that it is legal.

[maximo]

Where I work (as a temp), the company is closing on the 22nd at lunchtime, but everyone gets paid until normal closing time (ie: 5pm.). I think it is simply a goodwill gesture.

We are also having a xmas party on the 21st, from 1pm onwards, and everyone is getting paid as normal (not holiday). However, if you do not want to go, it will be considered as taking a half day holiday, just as if you were not going to work.

I think it is pretty fair, as indeed they are paying you for partying!