Alright for some reason my hours at my job got cut from almost 40 hours a week down to 13 hours I don't understand it I used to work 5 days.

21 Comments

1. Elspeth BloodgoodSeptember 17,2023 at 1:41PM UTC

   First, if they have reduced your hours you may be eligible for unemployment, check your locality. Then… if they are moving your hours down… it is a definite signal they are moving you out.

2. maria roseSeptember 17,2023 at 3:42PM UTC

   First of all, no business cuts workers hours without giving some kind of notice explanation. Also we don’t know how long this OP, Justin, has been working at this job in their position and were they hired as a full time employee or just hired to fill staff needs because of lack of staffing. A lot of places will hire people and give them a schedule of what appears to be a 40 hour work week because they are short staffed at the time but all hires are considered part time positions. I don’t think it’s a question of discrimination as much as a misinformation on the status of the job position hired for. Depending on the geographic location of this job, there will be labor laws in place that will explain the classification of jobs and how one can be scheduled different number of hours per week and not be classified as a full time employee. Since there appears to be a question about the why this person has had their hours cut, they could ask their employer to explain and ask if they can do any additional work to gain more hours since their position appears to be an hourly position versus a salaried position. Their employer may be following the labor law rules in place to maintain that all workers hourly average and don’t go above the maximum hours within a given quarter of the year. Nothing was mentioned about any benefits for this job, which means it is not a big corporation but a small private business with a small staff ( I am guessing under 50) which means there may allowance in the labor laws that can be applied here. And like mentioned by another, unemployment benefits may apply here depending on the location.

3. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 6:01PM UTC

   Not true that no business just cuts worker's hours without giving some kind of notice or explanation. It happened to me with a job I'd been with for 7 years. I was on the evening shift & aside from working every weekend (in addition to 3 weekday eves), my schedule was regularly set. One eve I showed up for work and found my hours had been changed to some overlapping shifts, AND my hours had been decreased. No notice. It's not illegal. Went to the boss who stated they needed to have the other hours covered and that was it. I shifted my personal schedule to accommodate and kept my job and boss was happy.However, in this gentleman's situation, it does not sound like a normal manner of business. I would calmly ask the boss the rationale behind the hours being cut so drastically. And if it appears to be discrimination (other ethnic workers being given his hours), then seek legal advice if warranted. You can also be eligible for unemployment and still work reduced number of hours but that would be deducted from the unemployment check. You would need to check the guidelines with the local EDD office for specific regulations.

4. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 7:09PM UTC

   At will: can be let go at anytime for any reason with zero notice.

5. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 6:53PM UTC

   I presume you have never worked in retail or healthcare in an at-will state.

6. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 7:07PM UTC

   Sometimes the explanation for an employer is sudden: "we no longer think you are a good fit"

   The needs change, the employee changed or the weather changed in the last 5 minutes.

   Nothing is permanent; it's all the bottom line.

   If you quit, you get no unemployment or severance (if any were an option). Id keep what you have and look for work/interview in the downtime

7. KatSeptember 17,2023 at 4:28PM UTC

   There are lots of reasons your hours can be cut. You should ask rather than assume a reason. Depending on the type of job, it could be that an order/contract was cancelled so hours have to be cut. The company could have lower demand for their product, so they don't need you as much. They might want to keep labor costs down by giving you fewer hours. As mentioned before, there might be labor laws they need to adhere to about staff hours. If you were officially hired as part time (even if you were working close to full time) that could've been a temporary increase due to short staffing or an order deadline. Ask your manager/scheduler why there's a decrease and find out if you can pick up more hours somehow. In the meantime, keep looking on your own or with a staffing agency to find something full time.

8. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 4:37PM UTC

   Anything preventing you from asking your boss: why have my hours been cut? Based on what you’ve posted here, discrimination sounds like a stretch unless you’re withholding other parts of this story.

9. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 5:30PM UTC

   Quitting equals zero hours and ZERO unemployment

10. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 5:42PM UTC

    ...which is probably why they are trying to get him to quit instead of having to approve unemployment or pay severance.

11. Johanna MasonSeptember 17,2023 at 5:51PM UTC

    Do NOT Just quit until you have found something else. You can collect Unemployment benefits (check your states requirements). BUT YES start looking!!!! And if you may lose them...use up any benefits PTO, Vaca, if you have any. Maybe save a few vaca days

12. AnonymousSeptember 18,2023 at 11:24AM UTC

    You shared you asked for more hours, but did you ask why the cut? That's really what's most important and you've not shared that. TBH that is your answer for whatever it is. Please pause on jumping to discrimination, as provided you've not provided proof since we don't know the whys.

13. AnonymousSeptember 18,2023 at 1:10PM UTC

    When I worked retail, this is how the would get rid of people---cutting their hours until they were forced to quit. Definitely ask why your hours got cut, but don' quit until you have a new job.

14. Valerie RiegerSeptember 18,2023 at 1:14PM UTC

    I'd would suggest asking your manager why your hours are being reduced.

15. AnonymousSeptember 18,2023 at 2:20PM UTC

    Justin, you’re not being discriminated against for being a white man. You might be looking at being managed out because of that kind of assumption though. Keep looking for a new job and take a cultural sensitivity class.

16. AnonymousSeptember 18,2023 at 8:35PM UTC

    Maybe he’s the only one who can’t speak Spanish and they’d prefer to have an easier time conversing. I’ve seen it. Goes both ways.

17. AnonymousSeptember 18,2023 at 4:33PM UTC

    Look for another job and meanwhile, apply for unemployment benefits because the hours were reduced significantly. Good luck!

18. AnonymousSeptember 18,2023 at 5:31PM UTC

    I don't think this is discrimination unless something specific has been said to you about not being Hispanic. Look for a new employer you may just be the one they chose to shorten hours for, sometimes the reasons have little to do with you and more about the business.

19. AyianSeptember 19,2023 at 12:55PM UTC

    Employers do this sometimes to make you quit rather than to let you go themselves. It's a kind of "quiet firing ". If you voluntarily leave, they usually don't have to pay unemployment benefits. You should already qualify for unemployment though for the reduction in your hours, so do that while you're looking for something else, as has been suggested by others.

20. Milissa JacobsSeptember 19,2023 at 12:55PM UTC

    Don't quit until you have another job. There is every chance you may be getting discriminated against, if your explanation was the exact opposite, everyone would be agreeing with you. If you want to fight that, get a good attorney and document document document. Regardless, get your resumé ready and start looking to see what there is.

21. AnonymousSeptember 19,2023 at 1:15PM UTC

    The only good thing here is that they’re giving you time to look for and interview for your new job. Keep the job. Good luck with your new job.