Someone needs to fight back, but I need to know where I stand!~

[vagrant]

At my workplace there's been numerous time when a part-time worker who works 3 times a week, is suddenly replaced by a full-time worker leaving the part-time worker with only 1 day of schedule per week, or sometimes even none for 8 days straight or so. This is the company's tactic of getting rid of someone in a nicer way. Well, not exactly. There's this lady who actually makes the schedule and you know what, I feel it's about race more than anything. A lot of my coworkers left, because of this.

I'm in the same situation they were in right now. I requested to be part-time, because school is killing me, and I'm motivated more than ever with my love for boxing to compete. The next thing I know there's a newly hired worker ready to take over my place. I've been working about 6 months already and this newly hired worker is scheduled full-time all through the month of May leaving me with almost no schedule at all.

I love the job and I need the money. I'll be honest and say yes I've been late a few times, but is that really enough for them to just say, "hey, you're fired."

The workplace s*cks in terms of the people I work with, but I don't really care because I work at night and all their crazy gossips, racism, and favoritism don't really affect me so much. All I'm asking for is a 3 day per week of schedule.

Are they doing something illegal that I should know about? I know a lot of you has already been there done that or are just naturally knowledgeable in many areas of life so please help me out!~

 

[Bible_Belt]

If the employer is making work schedules based on race, yes, that would be very illegal, a very flagrant civil rights violation and probably against several state laws as well. What that means to you...is not much. You should probably just look for another job. You could try to get several people together, hire a lawyer, and sick the advocacy groups on your company but it will probably just be a big pain in the ass for nothing.

 

[2.0]

Going to court is not worth your time and money for something so small as a 3-day a week job. If I were in your position, I would leave your current job for a better one somewhere else.

 

[joekerr31]

late a few times? what does 'a few' mean?

and yes, being late for a shift-based job is valid grounds for firing. when you are late other people have to pick up the slack or someone has to stay late to cover you - and either way the business suffers because customer service suffers.

welcome to the real world - employers aren't employing you so that you can pay for school or buy a new car - they don't care why you are working. they are employing you because their business has a need and they need someone to fill that need.

if you fail to fill that need - show up late, poor customer service, bad attitude, etc. - you get fired.

we could sit around all day and argue to what extent employers owe employees this, that or the other thing, but that's not how the world works.

the world works based on supply and demand. in an employers market (ie. more people looking for jobs than there are jobs) employers get to squeeze you a little harder. when its an employees market (ie. more jobs than there are people looking for jobs) you get to squeeze the employer more (ie. demand more money, show up late a few times and its not a big deal, etc.)

if you are ever going to 'fight back' against an employer you had best have a spotless record. It's pretty hard to fight back or call it a race issue if you've shown up late for work numerous times.

 

[woods]

First of all, it is in a companies best interest to have full time employees, rather than part time ones. (I guess it depends on the company though, really) You can't blame them for that. Cutting someone down to one day a week is just a way to fire/lay someone off, with out having to shell out for unemployment, in hopes that person will just quit. Im not saying it's right or wrong, but it's reality.

You should start getting in good with your scheduler/supervisor. If you get to be their friend, they will be empathetic to your needs. If they don't like you, they won't give a shyt. That's what it's about. Who's friends with who. If you want to win the game, be friends with the right people.

I don't buy that "race" shyt for a second. If someones a good worker, they're a good worker, and they will be kept around, even if the scheduler is a nazi. I've worked for FULL ON nazi white power dudes. They may hate other races, but if a Mex, a jew, or a Black guy can kick asss, they will keep working. Money is money.

 

[Mr.Positive]

I requested to be part-time, because school is killing me, and I'm motivated more than ever with my love for boxing to compete. The next thing I know there's a newly hired worker ready to take over my place. I've been working about 6 months already and this newly hired worker is scheduled full-time all through the month of May leaving me with almost no schedule at all.

If you have been working full-time for 6 months, and have your hours cut, you should qualify for unemployment benefits.

That would probably be what you would earn working part time anyway, and then, you can focus all your time on boxing and school.

I have to do this with my job. Every year we have a slow time, with not much work. So, I just go on unemployment for a few weeks, until it gets busy again. Its nice actually, to have some free time to do other things.

I like doing this out of principle too, because the company you worked for has to pay you the unemployment. It comes out of their pocket. It's a nice way of saying thanks for cutting my hours.