I work in a non unionized government position in Kansas and are currently extremely short staffed. We routinely get asked to hold over or come in early to cover shortages on shift from people calling in sick or for other various reasons. We have shift minimum requirements that if we fall below, someone has to fill the spots.
My question is, if everyone on shift unanimously agreed to all deny working extra hours can we be reprimanded for not “volunteering” to work extra? Also, they track how many days each person volunteers and if you are on the bottom of the list and no one steps up, you are told you have to come with the tone as if you will face punishment if you don’t.