临近年底，不少用人单位即将举办年会。“如何优雅地拒绝年会”等话题在社交网络引发热议。
As the end of the year approaches and companies prepare for annual conferences, the question of how to gracefully refuse attending an annual conference has sparked lively discussions on social media.
而近日，一起因年会引发的劳动纠纷案，也引发广泛关注。
某公司员工唐先生收到公司通知，要求其参加年会并参与节目表演。但唐先生当时手头工作尚未完成，拒绝参与该活动后，被公司以严重违纪为由开除。
A recent labor dispute stemming from a company's annual conference has drawn widespread attention. Tang was dismissed for severe disciplinary violations after refusing to attend the event due to unfinished work.
日前，唐先生一案的代理律师、北京盈科（武汉）律师事务所律师严傲和陈欢表示，该案经由仲裁裁决、一审判决及二审调解，法院最终认定案涉公司系违法解除劳动合同，需一次性向唐先生支付赔偿金、工资差额、未休年休假工资等共计18.5万元。
Following arbitration and court proceedings, the company was found to have unlawfully terminated the labor contract and was ordered to pay Tang compensation of 185,000 yuan.
如何界定年会是否属于工作范畴
中国社会科学院社会法研究室副主任王天玉表示，“关键在于判断相关活动中是否存在用人单位的统一强制性管理，以及是不是基于劳动者自愿”。这些判断标准直接关系到劳动者的劳动关系解除、加班费计算、工伤认定等法律适用问题。
According to Wang Tianyu, deputy director of the Social Law Research Office at the Institute of Law, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, an annual conference being considered as work depends on whether participation is mandatory.
“工作原因、工作时间和工作地点不应被局限于用人单位的日常业务或固定办公场所。”王天玉分析道，若用人单位组织年会时，明确提出“全员参加”并将其与考勤、绩效等挂钩，使得员工不参加可能面临不利后果，那么这类活动就具备了强制性。
“反之，如果用人单位明确活动遵循自愿原则，不进行考勤、不参加也无任何处罚，还可能为参与者提供便利或补贴，那么此类活动就更接近于企业提供的福利性质。”王天玉说。
Wang explained that if it is required and tied to attendance records or performance evaluations, it falls within the scope of work duties. Conversely, if it is voluntary without attendance tracking or penalties, it is more like an employee benefit.
广东耀文律师事务所律师张爱东在接受采访时表示：“劳动者原则上是有权拒绝参加年会的，但是在用工关系正常的用人单位中，很多劳动者出于种种因素考虑，往往不会直接拒绝。”
Zhang Aidong, a lawyer at Yaowen Law Firm in Guangdong, stated that employees have the right to refuse attending annual conferences in principle, though in practice most choose not to decline directly.
对于缺席年会能否按照旷工处理，张爱东认为，具体要看劳动者的职位和工作职责范围，同时还要考虑年会是否在工作时间举行。“对于非本职工作范围内的非工作时间加班，员工如果拒绝，企业不能以此为由解除劳动合同或者克扣工资。”
He added that whether event absence can be treated as absenteeism depends on the scope of the employee's job responsibilities and the timing of the event. If the activity is unrelated to job duties or takes place outside work hours, the employer shall not terminate the contract or deduct wages for non-attendance.
编辑：李涵萌
实习生：杨琳
来源：中国青年报 工人日报 新法治报
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