In an at will employment situation, is your boss allowed to ask you why and what your going to do for ?

Question

a requested day off? I thought it was none of their business. But since its "at will" employment and they can "terminate employment with or without reason at any time without prior notice", I'm not sure what the limitations are when a boss asks for personal info. Are there and if so, what are the limitations?

Answer 1

The day off is a request.  You don't have to answer your boss but they also don't have to grant it to you.  It may be that there are more than one person asking for the day off and your boss is trying to determine which person to give the time off.

Answer 2

nearly all jobs are "at will"

and it is none of his business what you are doing outside of work

Answer 3

say it's for personal reasons and you'd rather not discuss it.

Answer 4

That really depends. I usually offer the information willingly, as it makes me seem more approachable and more willing to keep my employer informed.

When I requested two days off for my friend's wedding, I simply told them what it was.

They are allowed to ask, for example, if more than a few people have requested that particular day off. They'll be more likely to offer the days off to the people who they deem need it the most. If one person needs to take her kid to baseball practice, and the other has to take his grandmother to the hospital for surgery, who do you think is going to get the day?

If you don't feel comfortable telling them the real reason, simply say something like you're needed for a family emergency, or something dramatic came up.

Answer 5

If it's a vacation day or earned time off then there is no reason for the topic to come up.  However if you are on a sensitive project your boss may be concerned for it.  

If  you're just looking for a day off and  have no earned time off or vacation then your boss may well be justified in asking why you need to not be at work that day.  It's his discretion at that point.

Answer 6

Unfortunately he can ask you.  You can choose not to answer him, and he can terminate you.  Look at it from his prespective.  He has a business to run, and he, like you, has bills to pay.

Someone, himself included, may need that day off too, and he is trying to see if your reason is indeed legitimate and justifies him either bringing an employee to work your shift, or even himself.

Answer 7

Make up a great, credible lie.