Cross training

[Vanessa54]

Cross training is 100% legal in every state.

Cross training is, as a general practice, a good management technique. If you think about it you will see why - if you can't, I'll explain it to you.

As you have described it, you are going to have a hard time making a claim of discrimination stick until or unless someone is fired or disciplined for poor performance on one of these cross training duties AND it is one of these "old and sickly" individuals you mention.

I'd like to ask one more question. One of these positions the regular workers are paid more than the department we are in. If we get certified in this department is the company required to compensate the difference even if we work there once in awhile?

 

[cbg]

No. They have no legal obligation to pay people who only fill in once in a while the same as people who do it full time.

In fact, they have no legal obligation to pay all of the people who do the job full time the same.

 

[LdiJ]

No. They have no legal obligation to pay people who only fill in once in a while the same as people who do it full time.

In fact, they have no legal obligation to pay all of the people who do the job full time the same.

I agree. However, there are some employers who will do that and even if they do not, it can be an opportunity to prove yourself worthy of the other department with the higher pay on a long term basis.

Many years ago, when I was very young, I made a foolish decision. I was in a job where I had some decent responsibility and authority. It was also pretty high pressure and it was hard for me to be gone even for vacations. One of the assistants for one of the vice presidents of the company was going to be gone on maternity leave and the vice president asked that I fill in for that person. Between my stupidly young ego and the high pressure of my job I convinced my immediate superior that it would be disastrous for that to happen, and somebody else filled in. That somebody else ended up being my boss a few months down the road. I later found out that I screwed myself over because the vice president wanted me to fill in so that she could assess me for that same job.

Egos really get in the way sometimes. Demanding "fairness" really gets in the way sometimes. Being a "team player" often results in long term benefis that are not apparent at the time one is being a "team player".