Scarsdale Ass'n of Educational Secretaries v. Board of Education of Scarsdale Union Free School District

# Court Rules on School Secretary Job Duties **What Happened** A union representing educational secretaries at Scarsdale Schools challenged the school district's decision to assign new tasks to secretaries and typists. The new duties included monitoring entry doors and distributing contractor badges. The union claimed these assignments violated Civil Service Law, which protects workers from being forced to perform jobs outside their job classifications without proper compensation. **What the Court Decided** The appeals court sided with the school district. The court upheld the dismissal of the union's complaint, ruling that monitoring doors and issuing badges did not constitute prohibited "out-of-title work" under the law. **Why This Matters for Workers** This decision shows that employers have some flexibility in assigning new duties to employees, even if those duties differ from original job descriptions. However, workers should understand that Civil Service Law still protects against significant work outside one's job title. If you believe you're regularly performing substantially different work, consulting with your union or an employment professional about whether your rights are being violated remains important.