Work cut my hours as soon as I told them I had a disability?

Mountaindewed · Jul 26, 2019 at 02:16 PM

My therapist suggested I tell my job about my anxiety disorder and my possible sleep disorder. So I did. I told my manager a few days ago. I didn’t say I needed any accommodations just that my sleep problems were the reason I called into work sometimes and my anxiety disorder makes it hard for me to be talkative. My manager didn’t say anything except that I’m doing a great job. Today the new schedule came out and I saw they had cut my hours by one full day. No one else’s hours have been cut. Is there anything I can do about this? My mom said it’s illegal to cut someone’s hours because of a disability. I’m not sure it’s because of that but I literally just talked to him the other day and my hours have never been cut before. I was going to talk to them on Monday and I also have a therapy appointment too. What should I say or not say?

seesaw · Jul 26, 2019 at 02:34 PM

The first thing you need to do is discuss it with HR. Find out why they say they cut your hours. Is it possible it was just temporary for this scheduling period? If they say it's permanent, then I might file a complaint with the EEOC that directly after you disclosed your disability, and did not even ask for an accommodation, they reduced your hours. The EEOC will then investigate.

Jul 26, 2019 at 03:44 PM

Never take a therapist's advice about the way to talk to an employer, b/c this is what happens.

The best way to get your 40 hours a week schedule back, is to go back to your manager and tell him/her that while you appreciate the accommdated schedule change, you still would like to work 40 hours a week. You don't need to be confrontational about it. Just earnest.

You: "Hi Manager Name, thanks so much for accommodating my sleep and anxiety issues that I let you know about, but I see you decreased my hours for the next two weeks. I still need to work 40 hours a week. I just wanted to let you know. Thanks so much."

Something like that. You don't need to sue your manager. But, next time, don't tell your manager WHY you need your hours changed. Just be vague: "I need to come in later in the mornings on my shifts. I can start at 10 a.m. etc"

Open Eyes · Jul 26, 2019 at 04:27 PM

What was your reason for talking about your challenges? It's possible that the manager you told thought you were actually asking for less hours. Try not to consider your hours being cut is punishment. Honestly, it may have been done thinking it's what you were asking for.

Mountaindewed · Jul 26, 2019 at 04:35 PM

I had been calling in and leaving early lately due to the sleeping issues. Then the day I decided to tell him about my anxiety they were having me do something different then what I normally do. So I jumped to conclusions and thought I was in trouble for calling in sick and the different task was punishment for calling in. Which I was told was not. So I just wanted to explain to him that my anxiety disorder will sometimes cause me to think in that way. Because he had to pull me aside and tell me I wasn’t in trouble for calling in and stuff.

Jul 26, 2019 at 05:21 PM

I agree with OpenEyes. Your manager may have thought you were asking for LESS hours than your normal 40 hours a week b/c of your sleep problems and anxiety.

This is still a mowhill -- don't turn it into a mountain yet. Just go talk to your manager and explain that you weren't asking for a decrease in your weekly work hours, just that you want to come in later and leave earlier but still maintain a 40 hour work week. Keep it simple and emotion-free when you go talk to your manager. I'm sure he/she will be glad to accommodate you accordingly.

sarahsweets · Jul 27, 2019 at 04:05 AM

I am surprised that your therapist would tell you to talk to your employer about your issues. As a rule, EMPLOYERS DO NOT CARE. They just dont know matter what they tell you and whatever line they feed you at hiring about how everyone looks out for everyone else. They want things easy peezy.

divine1966 · Jul 27, 2019 at 06:59 AM

Well I understand that you talked about your issues because your issues cause you to leave early and call in. But it’s only logical that if you call in and leave early, you’d get your hours cut. They’ll schedule other people more.

You didn’t get in trouble because your manager understood what caused your issues but it doesn’t mean they need to be ok with employees not handling their work load.

Your hours weren’t cut as a punishment but as a result of you not managing well with current number of hours.

Mountaindewed · Jul 27, 2019 at 08:41 AM

It’s just frustrating because other people call in way more then I do and leave early way more then I do and don’t even have sick hours like I do and when I use them they are not supposed to count against me and they don’t have their hours cut. But I know what you guys are saying.

Jul 27, 2019 at 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

It’s just frustrating because other people call in way more then I do and leave early way more then I do and don’t even have sick hours like I do and when I use them they are not supposed to count against me and they don’t have their hours cut. But I know what you guys are saying.

If you only work 4 hour days, 7 days a week for example, you'll never reach 40 hours. You have to work enough hours over 5 to 7 days to reach 40 hours.

Mountaindewed · Jul 27, 2019 at 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StreetcarBlanche

If you only work 4 hour days, 7 days a week for example, you'll never reach 40 hours. You have to work enough hours over 5 to 7 days to reach 40 hours.

My job is not a full time job. It’s only part time and has always been part time. I only work 20 hours a week 5 hour days.

Jul 27, 2019 at 02:11 PM

I am not sure why you're upset that your hours were decreased if you already work just part-time?

divine1966 · Jul 27, 2019 at 02:37 PM

Part time or full time, it’s a job that generates income. I understand that even if you only work part time (due to being on disability) you still rely on your income to supplement disability payments.

I have second job that supplements my day job income. It’s only 9-10 hours a week but that’s income I rely on for particular purpose.

What you can do is to ask your manager if you could get your hours back as you need the money. And if there is anything you can do to get more hours.

I command you for maintaining employment and trying your best. It’s applause worthy.

Mountaindewed · Jul 30, 2019 at 12:53 PM

It looks like it was just a mistake. I talked to him today about it. He was on vacation last week and someone else had done the schedule and now this guy is trying to fix all the mistakes. He put me back on that one day. I asked if there was a reason that other manager only scheduled me 3 days and he said “no, no worries.” But even my therapist said the timing was weird. But yeah it was just a weird coincidence.

seesaw · Jul 30, 2019 at 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

It looks like it was just a mistake. I talked to him today about it. He was on vacation last week and someone else had done the schedule and now this guy is trying to fix all the mistakes. He put me back on that one day. I asked if there was a reason that other manager only scheduled me 3 days and he said “no, no worries.” But even my therapist said the timing was weird. But yeah it was just a weird coincidence.

Glad it got sorted out. Always helps to just calmly ask first.

Jewerlygirl1986 · Sep 04, 2019 at 10:11 PM

Wha is your job title I’d you don’t mind me asking. I worked at a place that did that to me and it was the manger bullying me over my disability adhd is what I have and she would not pay attention to me when I wanted to talk to me about my performance and there was a lot of more stuff about me to. The manger told me o was stupid, dumb, and I didn’t know what I was doing and told me I was a lot of other words. I would call the head of the company and tell them what happened! Is there a way you can talk to her Again.

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Open Eyes Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Mar 2011 Location: Northeast USA Posts: 23,251 (SuperPoster!) 13 21.5k hugs given	Jul 26, 2019 at 04:27 PM #4 What was your reason for talking about your challenges? It's possible that the manager you told thought you were actually asking for less hours. Try not to consider your hours being cut is punishment. Honestly, it may have been done thinking it's what you were asking for.
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Mountaindewed Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jun 2016 Location: Where the sidewalk ends Posts: 38,807 (SuperPoster!) 8 9,772 hugs given	Jul 27, 2019 at 08:41 AM #9 It’s just frustrating because other people call in way more then I do and leave early way more then I do and don’t even have sick hours like I do and when I use them they are not supposed to count against me and they don’t have their hours cut. But I know what you guys are saying. __________________ I'm Blue
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Anonymous48672 Guest Posts: n/a	Jul 27, 2019 at 02:11 PM #12 I am not sure why you're upset that your hours were decreased if you already work just part-time?
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