My job temporarily assigned me to work at a location 4 hours away from where I live and for "about" 3 months. I was previously asked about it, and told them to let me know the "specifics", etc. and it seemed dropped. Then, about 1.5 to 2 weeks before the date they expected me there, they said "you're going" and "Be there at X(time), on X(date)"... period!!!

I live in the S.F. Bay Area, and the assignment is up at Tahoe, so the miles alone are not the only consideration... the weather is a major factor and could make my 8+ hour round trip hame and back, even longer, so it's not like I can just make a quick "run" home and back, since we're contracted to work 10 hour days, which often end up 11, 12, 13 or more hours, depending on business, staffing, etc.

This has created all kinds of hardships and problems for me, ranging from financial ones, to roommate issues needing my immediate attention with possible risk property damage to being thrown out without even knowing, to family issues, etc. And it's during the entire holiday season (ie. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years), so I get to sit in my hotel room all alone during those days, except during work. Besides, though as managers we do sometimes get moved around a bit, the frequency and distance involved, in this case, is absolutely NOT the norm. I've never even heard of anyone else doing these kind or number of moves.

Seems the reason for my being chosen for the assignment may have to do with the fact that I'm the single manager, but, noone's actually come out and said it, ver batim(sp).

They have put me up in a hotel, with an expense account which won't reimburse me for cab fare (only mileage), clothes washing in laundromat, etc. They knew I didn't have a car to take there, and I'm paying for rental car out of pocket (but, still get mileage of like $.36/mile). This is all costing me waaaaayyyyy more than the extra $100.00/week more that they give me while there.

So, I'm doing it against my... preference(?), it's costing me out of pocket, it's disrupting my personal life, and I'm miserable, among other things! To make matters worse, they're really pressuring me to ultimately stay at that location. It's a nice place and all, but not to leave everything and start over again. (If it matters, I'm almost 50 years old, with ailing parents who rely on me, and honestly, despite being ready in a heartbeat for things like this "back in the day", I've reached a point in my life where I'm kinda enjoying more stability and routine and attachments!) And as far from my home as I am, I can't even job search, in order to quit and have a job already lined up.

My questions are these:

1) Can they fire me for refusing to do the temporary assignment?
2) If I quit because of an assignment like that, would I be eligible
for unemployment? (I'm a restaurant manager, and have
worked 7 restaurants in 1.5 years with the company, and it's
cost me reviews/possible raises, career development, etc.)
3) I'm concerned that if I refuse and they can't fire me, that they'll
make my life miserable at work, to get me to quit. What are my
rights in regard to assignments and their acceptance or refusal?