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My job wants me to attend a CPR/ First Aid class yet won't pay me for my time. Is this legal?

I was told that it was mandatory for me to have my First Aid/CPR certification in order to keep my hours with my job. My job will pay the fee of the class but will not pay me for my time (about 4-5 hours) attending the CPR/First Aid class.

Is this legal? Can they actually not pay me for my time?

(I work with disabled adults in California).

Public Comments

1. don't go........i bet their are a 1000 other people who will....the Choice is yours dude?

2. If being certified is part of the requirement to have the job, then yes it is perfectly legal. They don't even technically have to pay for it. It's no different than them requiring you to have a college degree to work for them.

3. If your job requires you to be trained in something you're lucky they pay for the training at all. I can't become an EMT without the proper training and I would have to pay for it myself. It seems that generally when jobs provide free training for things such as First Response they are trying to make themselves look better... Which is no problem at all but that is a benefit of the workplace.

4. Yes, this is legal. Work doesn't pay for college yet many jobs demand that you have a degree.

This job says you must have your certification and if you want to keep that job, you must get yourself that certification.

This is perfectly legal.

5. I agree with your poster, Designer. If it's a provision of your employment then it's perfectly legal. If it isn't in your job description and it IS in a higher position description you may be able to lobby for a raise or a promotion. In any case, it's been my experience that education on any job is a benefit. When/if you decide to leave that company you'll take that with you and possibly better qualify for the next job you seek.

6. It is a prerequisite for your job, so no, they don't have to pay for it. They can simply hire someone else who already has the requisite knowledge.