"...do I really have to go?" No but if you decide not to go document the heck out of this. That might include confirming you will not be paid for the cleaning in a text message to hopefully get a return message. That is evidence for a wrongeful termination lawsuit if they fire you. Remember, however, that other employees (even your good friends) are not likely to testify on your behalf in court for fear of retaliation.

I worked in 2 different grocery stores that had a mandatory meeting. In (each) the employees who were not scheduled that day, did not clock in, but we had to sign a list that we were there. In both cases, the people not scheduled to work, then the manager turned in the list of the employees to payroll, thus was included in our checks of our (hourly) wage of the extra hour or 2 for the meeting. The people scheduled, had previously clocked in, thus would be paid for the meeting, since would go back to work after the meeting. In one company, they had (2) meetings, thus the working employees could come when other workers could take their job, and the 2nd one, had the meeting (before) the store opened.

This is a (mandatory) meeting, meaning, that some employees may have the day off, or come in before work, or in this case, are also told to work to clean the restaurant in the evening, thus (not) scheduled. In both cases, to not come to the meeting, you had to have a good excuse, like if an employee was on vacation, thus unable to attend.

If you are in the US, then they are required to pay you for every hour you work. This meeting is in regards to either new procedures, or problems that they want to address in your job at the restaurant, thus should be paid.

Yes, you can refuse, or maybe call in sick, but if this restaurant is too petty not to pay the employees for the time of the mandatory meeting plus extra cleaning, then they maybe stupid enough to fire you. You could file a compliant with the Department of Labor of the wages owed, but can you find another job quickly and be w/out a regular paycheck till you find another job? If they were to fire you, then you (might) be eligible for unemployment, since they fired you for not paying you to work.

Now, if there are several there who would also refuse to come in, then they may pay you, since can't afford to let go a bunch of employees.

Your choice.

Go to the meeting. File a Federal complaint with labor. Keep records of hours a few on the sly photos. That way they pay every one who had to show.

I would go, do the work, keep track of my time, then invoice them for the hours. They agreed to pay you for working. You were working. If you want to get fired, make a big stink about it and be a hero.

Yes, but you may lose your job over it, but if they want you to attend any meetings that are not in your work hours then you have to be paid.

IDK where you live, but here in NC, we can't even pick up a piece of paper off the floor till we're on the clock.Report it to the Laor Relations board or like the other person said, the state employment office.

They have to pay you if they require you to be at work. That said, if you skip it, your'e surely out of a job.

In the US, that is illegal. I would tell the boss, "no pay, no work. It is illegal for you to even ask me to do so".

You have the right to report this unpaid demand to your state employment office.

I would inform your boss, in front of all your coworkers, that I am not working for free.

And anyone smart enough to not take that crap should walk out with you.

Lolz