Can an employer mandate employee participation in daily group-exercise activity?
In other words, is it legal for an employer to require employees to participate in such activities? Some workers have intermittent health issues, such as asthma, which could be exacerbated by such activities. If we can require that employees participate in these activities, would a doctor’s note advising against participation in strenuous activity be required if an employee does not want to participate? Answer: Generally, yes — employers can mandate daily exercise, with some limitations and they can require a doctor’s note to excuse employees with health issues. Absent an employment contract, most states adhere to the employment-at-will doctrine that permits employers to fire employees for any nondiscriminatory reason, without cause or notice, as well as unilaterally change the terms and conditions of employment. General Elec. Tech. Servs. Co. v. Clinton, 577 N.Y.S.2d 719, 720 (3d Dep’t 1991), See e.g. Liberatore v. Melville Corp., 168 F.3d 1326, 1328 (D.C. Cir. 1999) (stating Distric
