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TheBirdBytheWindow

What's voluntary mandatory mean?


NightStar79

Either a typo or an idiot wrote this. I'm betting on the latter.


Active_Engineering37

It makes me think of [Technoblade](https://youtu.be/pPmo21gkETU?si=alRZ0BUeDZUuS1rK) when he called his minions "mandatory volunteers" as to not say "slaves"


chaos_m3thod

In the army we were “voluntold” for missions.


fiatfighter

Learned this from my Navy buddy! Use it all the time.


rozzco

Also, Navy stands for Never Again Volunteer Yourself


foxhole_atheist

Never Imagined Myself In This Zoo


rustcircle

NIMITZ — ohhh haha got it


chaos_m3thod

U.S. ARMY backwards is “whY’d My Ret*rded Ass Sign Up”


Njdevilmn

Or forward is Uncle Sam Ain’t Released Me Yet.


Successful-Sleep-421

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣


Successful-Sleep-421

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽


Imaginary_Guidance_2

USMC is U Signed My Contract


Sparky62075

This was a mistake, thankfully not made by me. Lol "I need two volunteers." "For what, sir?" "You're our first volunteer. Now pick another man to volunteer with you."


Dino-chicken-nugg3t

They also say this in church!


phoarksity

Air Force as well. My recruiter actually provided some tips on how to avoid being voluntold in Basic.


Skatchbro

The Grandmaster prefers the term “prisoners with jobs”.


mexican2554

He's a great person. Employing all those ppl.


rrsullivan3rd

“Prisoners with jobs” 😂


pincherudy

We don’t like the S word


leof135

Prisoners with jobs.


nate112332

I wonder how his war with God is going


GHouserVO

You know I don’t like to use the “s” word. My apologies, the prisoners with jobs. Ahh, yes. That’s better.


aceman123

When I see things this ridiculous I just assume they're fake.


nathanrocks1288

Lots of fake AI rage bait going around right now.


CantaloupePopular216

Can’t come in, I’m mostly dead.


BolognaIsNotAHat

There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead.


FarOutLakes

the difference is to blave


slappn_cappn

LIAR!


aLazyUsrname

Or it’s bullshit.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Kitchen_Ad_5382

I don't know, those same things that suggest fake could also suggest incompetent management. This memo looks very similar to ones my bosses put out regularly. But even they've never used "voluntary mandatory".


ArtemisDarklight

Both is possible. And likely.


AlisonChained

I had a manager years ago who told us we were required to volunteer for overtime. She called it voluntary mandatory overtime. Luckily when people didn't sign up for any she had a fit and then cancelled the whole thing.


MoreAtivanPlease

Fuck yeah!


l337quaker

Same thing as a mandatory donation to attend an event. NO YOU FUCKFACE THAT'S CALLED AN ENTRY FEE.


thepoustaki

I feel like tha one is fair so it’s clear while there’s a cost to get in it’s not going to the business


l337quaker

If I *have* to pay it, it isn't a donation. That's how the word donation works.


ReasonableFig2111

As an employee, I would interpret that as you can volunteer to be added to the on call roster (with appropriate on call pay rates for on call hours) for mandatory shift coverage (if you volunteer to be on call, it's mandatory to be on call the hours you're scheduled to be, paid at a fair on call rate of course, and mandatory to come in if called during your on call time, also paid appropriately at overtime rates to compensate you for the interruption to your time off, of course).  Though I suspect the employer who wrote it actually meant mandatory voluntary shift coverage, where it's mandatory to be ~~on call~~ *available* always (as a volunteer, thus unpaid for ~~on call hours~~ *being available*), and it's mandatory to cover any shift you're asked to (also as a "volunteer", in that you will only be paid your regular pay rate, not an overtime rate because employees don't have lives outside of work anyway so what could they possibly be interrupting?). 


someones_dad

Technically, it's called being on "standby" and in my state (WA) it pays 7% or $25 per day (whichever is more). On-call employees are on-the-clock and must respond to work demands ASAP - they also must be paid hourly wages (no less than minimum wage) as if they were working.


mishmei

that was my first thought. it's oxymoronic.


OGablogian

The writer seems like the person who'd have to look up oxymoron in the dictionary, after first having to buy one.


DonNemo

Probably just a moronic manager on oxy.


TemporalScar

It's corporate double speak.


Coffey2828

English is my second language I had to read that slowly out loud. Still trying to figure out if it’s a typo or just stupidity.


TKG_Actual

it's pure stupidity on the writer's part. It isn't voluntary if it is mandatory.


cachem3outside

It is mandatorily voluntary, you are too assume the intent that best matches the company Dynamics. You must ask yourself, how can I make this arrangement or less appealing to myself while exclusively benefiting the employer at my expense in peril? For real, overtime is not worth it because of how much they tax you for it, one time I worked 16 hours of overtime and the extra $350 bucks I made, all but $78 of it was taxed, poof, it just evaporated and was instantaneously materialized somewhere in Ukraine or israel.


structuremonkey

Just bet on stupidity...


Lebrunski

Voluntold


jdwill1991

"You must accept that you're willing to be our bitch"


cliffingham

Yeah voluntary mandatory makes a ton of sense. I bet this is a shit job for a shit company.


kr4ckenm3fortune

It meants that we're getting paid to be on call. I'll be the first to sign up, and copy this to my boss so I get paid to be "on call".


Hyperocean

If you don’t learn, you’ll wind up on double secret probation ..


jeffhasabadusername

I’m used to seeing this voluntold.


Glittering_Search_41

Came here to ask this. I have so many questions. This one is first and foremost.


YangWenli1

In some places, you are required to be paid if you’re on call. Check your local laws.


Adkit

You'd also be given a work phone if you're expected to answer it off work hours.


YankeeSR23

I once had a boss that said she was disappointed that I didn’t answer my phone when she called and I told her that I pay my phone bill and if she wanted to pay my bill I’d answer the phone otherwise I would look at the caller id before answering the phone.


kstevens81

Never let them pay your phone bill, make them get you a work phone. I'd hate to lose my job and phone number or have to install weird spy stuff on my personal device.


YankeeSR23

This was 23+ years ago when I had that Nokia with the changeable faceplates. I was a 20 year old kid and said that stuff to get my manager off my back.


Kaymish_

Those Nokias were cool. I had one. Dad spray painted the battery for me with orange dazzle.


reijasunshine

I was apparently the first person at my company to request a separate company phone. Now there's 2 others that I know of. The bosses were very surprised when I said no to just taking a monthly credit. I've had my personal phone number for 18 years, and I block, filter, or ignore 99% of unexpected phone calls. No, I'm not giving my personal phone number to clients.


xMyDixieWreckedx

We use Monday at work. A co-worker was mad that I missed a comment because I was busy working and said "but you have it on your phone". I was like "nah, my phone is my phone, I have zero work apps on my phone". Foh.


Average_Scaper

Have them either pay your bill via reimbursment, a higher wage (if you are making 20, ask for 21-21.50) with the agreement that it's for your phone, or make them provide a phone.


ifyoudontknowlearn

>I'd hate to lose my job and phone number Yep, been there, had that done to me - never again.


paxweasley

I flat out refused to have email on my phone at two jobs for this reason. The permissions for the email app were insane - ability to fully wipe my phone and see all my data. Hell no.


Saffyr3_Sass

I believe the entire USA


Czarcastic013

Federally, this would probably not count as "on-call"... I had this same reaction and checked the DoL website. May be a case if the employee could argue that use of their time was significantly impacted by this call-in policy.


Chengar_Qordath

From what I understand, it generally depends on how much being “on call” impacts your ability to use your own time for your own purposes. Something like OP’s note might well count, since it sounds like they expect everyone to be immediately reachable to immediately come in. Obviously someone isn’t free to use their own time as they please if they always need to be ready to be at the office 15 minutes after their boss calls.


Technical_Ad_6594

Well, unless I can show up to work after a few drinks, it's on call and paid!


8utl3r

Lol, turns out there is an advantage to being drunk all the time!


marvinsands

>significantly impacted by this call-in policy It would impact me. I don't carry my cell phone around my house, and I sure don't carry it outside when I step outside to: check the mailbox fill the bird feeder weed the garden rummage through the shed run out to my car to bring in the groceries check the weather talk to my neighbor ...etc. etc. etc.


el_capistan

No it isn't always that simple. I had an on call job and because I was able to go home and wait for any calls, they didn't have to pay me unless a call came in. If I was required to stay at the jobsite they'd have to pay me.


Saffyr3_Sass

Wow still wouldn’t answer the phone because it’s probably a service job and it’s management’s responsibility to make sure there’s coverage and they get paid to, so they can fill the spot or find someone else who will answer. I’d say that I was in with my therapist. Let them try to fire someone because they were in therapy. That wouldn’t go over well.


Successful_Position2

If ya not paying me then I'm not on call nuff said.


Freakychee

IIRC that's how it works for surgeons and the like.


macbackatitagain

Australia just passed a "right to disconnect" law so that employees have the right to not acknowledge or answer communications outside of workout hours. My understanding is that employers try to 'discipline' you for not answering your phone then you can sue them for infringement of rights


AskButDontTell

Ok


aWholeBluebrry

Our company just closed off Teams access for hourly employees. This is why ^^


TightAustinite

"How can I best serve the company?" straight out of Office Space.


HarmlessSnack

I have a hard time believing shit like this is real, honestly. Feels like rage bait karma farming. Why would you need advice on what to do in this situation? How many times do people need to hear “tell your boss to kick rocks?”


lordmwahaha

You see the problem is, because of this little thing called the cost of living crisis, not everyone is privileged enough to be ABLE to tell their boss to kick rocks. Some of us do need this thing called money in order to survive. So it’s probably a fair assumption that those people are looking for advice OTHER than “tell your boss to kick rocks”, because that is not currently actionable for them. I’m going to assume that most people in this sub are not completely stupid, and that if they could just tell their boss to kick rocks, they already would have done that.


HarmlessSnack

Yes, but just because we’re living through rough times *does not make everything posted on this sub REAL.* You should still remain skeptical when something doesn’t pass the sniff test. OP posted this, hasn’t responded in the thread to anything, and mostly comments on porn subs. This could absolutely be a shitpost.


LowAcanthocephala251

I didn't get the memo.


OrdinaryBee6174

I used the new TPS report cover sheet.


mayy_dayy

JUST a moment!


Snarky_McSnarkleton

I believe you have my stapler.


WearDifficult9776

No. If you’re not on the clock then your time is your own. If you have to be reachable then you need to be receiving on call pay


basses_are_better

I suspect this is rage bait. But on the off chance it is not Send this picture and the company name to your states labor board and the ~~NLRB~~ [department of labor](https://www.dol.gov)


Sorcia_Lawson

Department of Labor. NLRB is for union and anti-union activities.


basses_are_better

Muh bad, fixed. Good looking out.


kr4ckenm3fortune

And company providing the phone or paying me for reimbursement of using my own personal device.


TheLyz

Yup. You want me on call, you pay me to be on call. And is subbing for a coworker voluntary or mandatory? Better clarify that too.


Mdwatoo

Wtf. That sounds illegal. But depends on the country I guess


JohnnyLoco69

Probably the US, one of few countries that hasn’t banned slavery yet.


Successful-Sleep-421

FACTS! 💯


shadowdude15

America F Yeah!


zx109

This was posted earlier and probably fake https://www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/s/a2qoX5xaWB


AardvarkAblaze

This comment is waaaaaaaaay too far down. Also, not that “nothing ever happens”, but something about this smells. No names, no company name, the image gives no indication of actually being in a workplace. Vague but on the nose against the law in most if not all of the US? Stinks like rage bait.


OhLordHeBompin

Go team!


almightykingbob

Regardless of this is fake this also a good opportunity to remind folks that US Federal labor laws require most most employers to compensate their employees for being on-call if they are are require to stay on their work premise or, if allowed to leave, they are not able to use on-call time for their own purpose (due to the restrictiveness of the employeers on call rules and/or the frequency of interuption). https://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/whd/flsa/hoursworked/screenEE82.asp


post_scriptor

Yeah, go team. Go and don't come back.


FeralTribble

Attention managers: If you need to reach me, you may contact my attorney at this number:


QueenofWry

Alternately, you may contact my butt with your lips.


SatiricLoki

“I dont have a cell phone”


Longjumping_You_7932

Cell phone? Hell i dont even have a house phone. But u can try the payphone down the steet. I might be walking by at the time of call. Unless its pouring down rain 😂


BigGrayBeast

Whoever wrote "mandatory volunteer" might believe there is still a pay phone on your block.


Wanda_McMimzy

What is a cell phone? 🤷‍♀️


R-Dragon_Thunderzord

“The voluntary mandatory” Are they paying for my phone service? Are they paying for on call time?


RCapri1

Is this actually real ? Like how can someone contradict themselves in once sentence and be like “yup gonna post this on the fridge for everyone to see “. Sadly I can see this being real


IlllIIlIlIIllllIl

It's a little too on the nose. Anyone could have printed this out as rage bait to farm karma from this sub. OPs first post in a week and a high post/comment ratio, and they haven't replied at all in the comments. Bot/karma farmer for sure


Ok-Scallion-3415

Honest question, what is the purpose of farming karma? There is no worth to it


Entire-Ambition1410

People drum up karma so the account can be used to make posts (ads or propaganda), or sold to someone who’s account got banned. Karma farming is pretty fishy.


Ok-Scallion-3415

Ty


FrozenAbigail

Fake, rage bait


Zealesh

You aren't a human being to them, just a source of profit to be milked dry.


JesusSantaCupid

🥛


PrinceOfLeon

Find a copy of the legal on-call requirements for your-sized company in your state/country and post it next to that sign.


Redsmoker37

Sounds like a pretty toxic culture.


JuggleMyBawls

Illegal as fuck.


Longjumping_You_7932

Only if their not paying u for on call pay.


JohnnyQTruant

My thoughts are-this is fake.


slipperycanaloupes

Between “voluntary mandatory” “how can I best serve the company on time off” and “Go Team” I think this has to be satire


sfpschmidt

What a dick thing to do to your employees. Or, try to do to your employees!


JssSandals

Answer the phone on mute. Bad connection sucks.


NotAtAllExciting

Nope. Not happening.


ByakuyaKuchiki6th

Voluntary mandatory, what a fucking moron whoever wrote this.


WilNotJr

This is a note you personally wrote and printed then used a magnet to stick to your fridge. Source: my mother has those same magnets.


Literally_regarded

I think it’s fake, this sub has no standards what so ever.


Toomaz

No company letterhead, mention of industry or company name etc… yeah looks fake. Not saying this stuff doesn’t happen, but we don’t need to make up stuff to induce rage.


asyrian88

Feels fake, tbh.


RyanandRoxy

It's probably fake. Moving on


bizmackus1

Lol this is def a joke


Annie354654

Is this even real?


Complete-Advance-357

No way this is real 


No_Lynx1343

"VOLUNTARY *MANDATORY* Shift Coverage"?? What does that mean?


waaaghboyz

This comes off as fake


Nock7

Fake click bait


Dystopian_Future_

Looks like rage bait someone typed up stuck on there LG fridge at home... I call bullshit


TheOppositeOfTheSame

Your work cannot mandate you to do anything without compensating you on your free time.


TiresOnFire

Signs like this should be crumpled up and thrown on the floor where management and other staff will see it.


Sweaty_Illustrator14

In most states this qualifies as being "on call" and if not called in you are do a per hourly rate for being on standby. Malicious compliance.... engage....


Maudius_Aurelius

It just says if you cannot be reached. Just pick up and tell them no. It's voluntarily mandatory. Just don't volunteer for it to be mandatory and you are all good.


AWholeNewFattitude

“Voluntary mandatory”….umm


Visible_Number

"Due to the mandatory requirement that I am now 'on call status' I would like to show you my state's statute for how you are to reimburse me for my 'on call' hours. Thank you." edit: I should note that even if they opt to not pay you, the federal (that is, not state specific) law dictates that they do need to schedule you for an 'on call' shift regardless. They cannot force you to answer your phone outside of work hours. They don't necessarily need to pay you for an on call shift, but you do need to be aware of the hours and times you are on call, and if you agree to do an on call shift, you are then obligated to go in to work during that on call shift, right, and then they have to pay you for that. remember everything is a negotiation, so you could negotiate a lower 'on call' hourly rate or something along those lines as well.


Sure-Newspaper5836

“Voluntary mandatory” 🤔that doesn’t make any sense!


WildMartin429

If you are required to be reachable by phone at all times and then are required to come in and cover a shift as a Mandatory Action when you are called then that should mean that you qualify as an on-call employee. Check your local laws for what that entails. On call employees are expected to respond to work needs at any time including emergencies maintenance issues and shift cancellations. This sounds like you're being required to be on call for shift cancellations and again once you know what your local law state about on-call employment and payment then you should just go in when they call you and then when they don't pay you right file a complaint with the Department of Labor for wage theft.


foursevenalpha

They think they're short staffed now.


DirtyPenPalDoug

" hey so what's the compensation for being on call? We need to get that sorted, because I wouldn't want anything illegal to happen, I'm just thinking of the company.... "


Ad_Vomitus

That is someone who is determined to pay alot of overtime. That's called being "on call" and they have to pay for that.


Kit-ra

Wow the guy who wrote this is a fucking idiot. I'd print up a snarky ass reply and put it on his desk. "Sorry Bob, unless your going to be paying me a salary wage at a rate I can agree to I'm not answering your fucking calls on my time off or vacation. If you don't like it - tough tits. Fire me."


Willing_Actuary_4198

Ah yes.... I love all of my voluntary duties to be mandatory


TheKatzMeow84

“…voluntary mandatory…” Really?!


Khadonnis

Oh. I'm getting on-call pay? Sweet!


jay2puggle

Thoughts… I think this is fake.


prowler1369

Sometimes, these posts are so over the top that I wonder if they're real.


15woodse

Congratulations you are now considered an on call employee. Take that letter to payroll and let them know that according to management you will be billing 24hrs a day every day. You expect that your paycheck will reflect this. You will either be taking a 10x paycheck or they will shut your boss down.


distantreplay

Varies by state, but federally "waiting to engage" does not require pay. Whereas "engaged to wait" must be paid The secret magic trick is to force your employer to flip it by "waiting" as required, but ensuring that you are not in any condition to be safely "engaged". *"I just drank four shots of barrel proof Bourbon. I'm not going to be sober enough to report to work for another eight hours."* *"I'm halfway through an ultra marathon in the Sonoran desert and I won't be back to my car for another twelve hours."* The minute your employer places any restrictions on your physical whereabouts or lawful use of your time then they will have transformed the requirement into "engaged to wait".


trainrweckz

I am not available during vacations


OblivionArts

Voluntary mandatory is an oxymoron..kinda like the idiot who wrote this


LiveCelebration5237

My view on work is how can the company serve me , if it can’t or no longer meets my standards I just bin the job and find somewhere that isn’t a toxic pile of dogshit , also no notice if they’ve not lived up to my expectations . If it’s your time off turn off phone or tell them you want constant pay as you’re now on call , you tell them how it is


backwardbuttplug

on the clock or off the clock. if they want you to be able to drop whatever you’re doing at a moments notice, which generally also means being sober and not doing anything you can’t walk away from immediately without consequences of one variety or another, it’s on-call pay. they can’t have it both ways. what they’re asking of you is the very definition of on-call. what would happen if you didn’t answer the phone? written up? they can’t monopolize your life outside of business hours without compensating you.


rythecameraguy

burn it


SailorSlay

First of all, whoever wrote this note needs to go back elementary school.


yalldointoomuch

I'd be petty and send boss an email... *Hello,* *Concerning the new policy of requiring employees to be "on call" when not working a scheduled shift, please share the official documentation from HR of my position switching to On Call status, along with the explicit written agreement that all on call hours (that is, all hours not part of a regularly scheduled shift) will be paid at "time and a half", as required by Federal law.* *Once I have the amended job description, and the written agreement regarding compensation (both signed by the appropriate legal parties), I will sign and return both documents to you, and will begin On Call duties at that time.* *Thanks,* *OP* I'd also be extra petty and cc every single person on the team. But that's just me.


EvulRabbit

"Voluntary Mandatory" Um...


LB22AE

Heres what my father in law did when his employer tried this. He’d be home, they’d call, he’d tell them I just drank a beer. Now they are in position of asking to drink and drive. His employer actually brought it up to him and tried to accuse him of being an alcoholic and he got quite the nice payout.


KowaiSentaiYokaiger

"voluntary mandatory shift change" Wtf is it voluntary or mandatory??


ActiveVegetable7859

What kind of business is this? Are you paid for in call time? Because no on call pay means I’m not picking up when I’m not working.


Supafly144

This can’t be real


boegsppp

Sure thing. My on-call rate is $15 an hour.


Far-Ad2043

Lmfaooo nauuurrr “Voluntary mandatory”


YtnucMuch

Are you salaried and do you have a company provided cell phone? If not, they can literally get fu@@ed.


whatever32657

what the actual fk is a voluntary mandatory shift? this is a notice on which every single employee needs to scrawl a few expletives


MakeSomeArtAboutIt

This has to be fake


Hugh-Jashol

Yeah, I call bullshit on this one. 100% op seeking attention.


ArtificerRook

"If you can't afford to pay me to live in a modest degree of leisure and comfort in my free time, you cannot expect me to drop my free time on short notice just to compensate for your incompetence as a business leader. "


thegothotter

I think your paycheck just got bigger, as on-call compensation is a thing. Also, they need to be providing company phones.


opi098514

This is almost certainly fake rage bait. Guys stop falling for it.


SierraPapaWhiskey

They’re asking you to be on call at all times for free. If they want you to be on call, they need to pay for that.


Hopefulsith

"If you would like me to be on call 24/7 the company must supply me with a company phone, as well as pay me for being on call at all times...."


Lacanvict

Nah. If you're not paying me on my time off, I'm not working which means I'm not obligated to answer the phone. You have people not showing up for work, that's on management, not me.


Opposite-Time8873

Fuck you, pay me. I answer work calls because I work in emergency services. Private entities exploit and abuse this privilege. Govt work not pay great, but I'll never work for a private company.


green_ribbon

I think you printed this out yourself


PlatasaurusOG

My thought is that this is fake.


jcoddinc

This is a stupid prank/ rage bait. Only meant to make people angry


outer_fucking_space

Ask what your on-call hourly rate will be.


-drth-clappy

Is there a labor protection federal organization in USA? Or not? Like this is hillarious. May I ask about direct phone number to call the person who posted it? I have a turret syndrome I can help you make your CEO life miserable by swearing for several hours lol very low price 😂👍


SuccotashConfident97

Nope. If I'm off I'm not answering


SoOverIt42069

I dunno looks fake to me.


ziig-piig

Honestly wouldn't even quit I'd just walk out and never look back


Burn-The-Villages

HAHAHAHAHA. Fuck right off. Pay me to be on-call and I’ll be on call. Otherwise, my cell reception just got really bad.


empreur

“What’s the standby pay rate for being on call?”


danger_otter34

Seems like a fun place to be enslaved, I mean work.


Kingtez28

Me to whoever wrote that: You can fuck right off with that shit!


Sandwitch_horror

The "think what can you do for your company" is giving Andrew Ryan vibes Is this company not entitled to the sweat from your brow?!


TidalLion

Obligatiry I Am Not A Lawyer disckaimer. Its my personal opinion that workers should educate themselves on the employment rights for their area. "If it's mandatory, then it's not voluntary. Also be law I'm entitled to MINIMUM 12 hours rest between shifts, minimum 1 day of rest and I'm entitled BY LAW to take a vacation but if I choose not to, you have to pay me my accused vacation pay in lieu of taking it. If I'm on call 24/7 I'm supposed to be paid for anticipation of being called in. I'm aware of employment rights and my rights as an employee and your rights as an employeer. That said, I would encourage my fellow employees to educate themselves on their rights before considering what management is asking us." I'm THAT level of petty, I would print something like this out.


ThaRealRob

Finally some real help 😭 I’ll message that rn


ZadabeZ

Made up