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Ladycat
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Senior Member
since 1999-07-05
Posts 782
At the edge and a doorway,TX

0 posted 1999-12-21 12:01 PM


Yes, I know here is Ladycat to give a speech on the things that she hates, but this time it’s not.

I have a job were I work my butt off.  After awhile I realized that I wasn’t making any money.  Then I realized that my hours had gone down to 15 a week.  Now I have bills to pay too so I wanted to know what was going on.  I talked to the night mgr. that told me he didn’t make the schedules for our shift.  I was sent to the day mgr.  The day mgr. told me that the store mgr. made the schedule and that is whom I needed to talk to.  I caught the store mgr. one-day after work and asked him about my hours and he said that all the schedules are faxed to the Owner to get approval and that is when they get changed.  
I called the home office to speak to the Owner and the lady there told me that he was gone and she didn’t know when he was coming back.
(To many chiefs, not enough Indians)
I knew one thing though and that was that the Owner had to show up at our Christmas party. After getting the dodge and weave the whole night, I finally got to ask him why my hours where cut so short.  He said that pregnant women shouldn’t have to work so hard, they should stay at home and relax (sounded like he was trying to lay it on thick), and that if anything happened to the baby that I could sue him.   I think that was the whole thing behind it, but I said nothing.  Now I’m not the type of person to sue at the drop of a hat, but I might have to for the comment that was made.
Now does that seem fair to you?

Please help me!!!
Lost and Hormonal in TX,
Ladycat



 Live in my world just once and you'll find yourself enraptured.


© Copyright 1999 Vynette M. Charles-Brooks - All Rights Reserved
Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley
1 posted 1999-12-21 05:26 PM


Sounds like a sexist opinion! Women used to work in the fields, squat and give birth and go right back to work! I know we aren't those hardy pioneer women, but his concept of the 'protected' pregnant woman is very prejudical!  On the otherhand, in our 'sue happy' society, perhaps he's seen instances where this happened and he wants to protect himself and his business.  Advice: Talk to him, get a letter from your doctor stating that you are able to work full time. Good luck, dear!  

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
2 posted 1999-12-23 09:48 AM


OK, Ladycat, first:  were you ever 40 hours, full time?  Have you qualified for "bennies" i.e., medical insurance, etc.  How long have you had this job?

There are a number of unanswered questions I have...these being only a few.  

If you have concerns [as I see a pattern in what little information you've provided, and I'm not Ann Landers...] and you can answer "Yes" to the above questions and have a number of years on this job, I would say they were downsizing you in anticipation of what so many career/new moms do:  have the baby, and end up leaving.  They are getting ready for that.  BS on the "taking it easy" answer you got.

Again, if you've answered YES to the above questions, then start documenting.  Don't be paranoid [and with hormones raging, that's pretty hard to do] BUT if you were full-time, when did you go to part-time.  Then, when was your time cut from part-time [considered 20-30 hours per week] to less than part-time [under 20 hours per week?]

After you have that information, go to your public legal system with the information you have, and question whether or not you are being discriminated against because of your pregnancy.  They will help you go from there.

Good luck!!!


 Sunshine
Look, then, into thine heart, and write ~~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



Alicat
Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094
Coastal Texas
3 posted 1999-12-23 10:30 AM


Well, sexual harassment comes in several forms, most notably 'hostile environment' and 'sexual harassment or quid pro quo'.  Ask him again next time, and if he says the same thing, then tell him that you find that remark sexuall offensive.  If he persists, then it's harassment that can be documented and taken to court.

Kitty, I do know that all this has been rough on you, and you have my prayers.  I only wish I could do more to ease your burdens.

Alicat


 As I sit here dimly thinking
Watching modem lights a-blinking
Churning out poetic hash.
Lord, in all Your piety,
Help me keep my sanity:
Please don't let the modem crash! --Alicat



doreen peri
Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812
Virginia
4 posted 1999-12-28 12:36 PM


Ladycat-

I think you have received very good advice from your passionate friends, here. I especially support the idea of documenting what has happened and what was said by the owner of the company and in presenting the facts to the public legal system in your jurisdiction for evaluation, if need be.

What I would do is this: (keep in mind, this is just my opinion and I'm not an expert in legal advice)

First, as documentatoin, draft a letter to your direct supervisor with a carbon copy to the owner of the company. Within that letter, state the facts first.... how you were accustomed to being on the schedule for X amount of hours per week and how your work time has been decreased to 15 hours per week. Then, make reference to the Christmas party and how the owner of the company answered you when you asked him about your reduced hours (quoting him would be good). Then, close the letter by stating something like, "I will be happy to provide the company a written statement from my doctor to the effect that I am physically able to work X # of hours, just as I was prior to becoming pregnant. Please let me know whether this is necessary." If I was writing the letter, I might also make a statement at the end which questions whether you are being discriminated against because you are pregnant (but, i'm often bolder than a lot of people).

Clearly, you are in a difficult situation and I would encourage you to be assertive, yet also cautious in your wording. If you have a public resource in your area for legal assistance, they may be able to help you draft this letter.

Again, all of this is just my opinion... I am not an expert on how to handle things like this which may have some legal implications.  To be honest, I'm very surprised that you are experiencing this blatantly politically incorrect scenerio in 1999, as we approach 2000. I thought the world knew better. I have 2 children... my daughter is 7 and my son is 17. With both children, I worked up until the day my water broke. Unless you have complications, there is no reason you can't continue working throughout your pregnancy.

Hang in there, Lady! And keep us posted, ok?

luv, dp

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