I started a new job a month ago my offer letter says I am a full time emplyee & an assitant manager.....?
Asked by Brooklyn Baller
and I get paid this amount a hour. Now because my store inst selling enough "protection plans" (like a extended warentee on the computer and electronics we sell) despite we lead the district in sales! Then because we are WAY OVER BUDGET! Upper management told our manager to cut everyones hours down to 32 hours a week as unlike the normal full time hours of 40. I know the offer letter I signed said full time is 40 hours I have a copy of it. Even during my interview I made it clear I have to work 40 at a minimum. We also are not allowed over time. For example last week I had worked over 5 hours that would of put me at 45 hours. I walked into work and my manager told me that I can't clock in until 5 hours later because he couldn't pay me for over time and he our manager would get in trouble for it. I love my job besides that but with the amount I make per hour and with cut hours it hard. I was wondering what my rights are in VA from them changing up on me less than month into it? Any idea Also the funny thing is that we still have a now hiring sign up on door and our boss get emails from our District Manager to interview people and get them on board. But yet they cut peoples hours. I just don't get it. I am praised on a normal basis for knowing more about our products then our other 3 employees combined. It really has me angry I would of never started working here if I knew i only work 32 hours a week. additionally a Child Protective Services Stipulation that I have to meet in order to file for custody of my son. is I have to have insurance in order to get mys on back so I can add it this further hurts me and I have to have a "stable job history" If I quit which my gut says too I get penalized from the state in some way. stemming from my custody issue.

Best Answer:
The only thing you can do is quit, but let me advise you of something from a legal perspective. It is against the LAW not to pay an employee any overtime work and ask them to come in 1, 2, 3, etc... hours later to allegedly balance off the overtime worked. The Department of Labor is very clear on this on a Federal and state level. And yes. This also applies to VA. If they do this again I suggest you contact the wage and hour division of DOL at 1-866-4-USWAGE. The fact they are hiring and cutting peoples hours to boot is one of the reasons why Wal-Mart is sinking fast with the class action lawsuits they are losing clear across the board from New York clear to Texas and many other states.

technically full time hours starts from 32-40 hours, if the company is not making enough sales, then its quite understandable that the best thing is to cut some hours. you on the other hand shouldn't let anyone use you when it fit for them.
Answered by nakkie

maby you should ask a lawyer for advise
Answered by apalughi p

You are being used. First, you are supposed to be paid for all hours worked. check with the Department of Labor for that one. Second, By cutting you down to 32 hours a week, then you become "part time" and they don't have to pay as much in benefits to you. Once they start figuring out ways to screw the employees like that, if they can get away with it, they won't stop. Start looking for a new job.
Answered by my_alias_id

They may have cut your hours to keep you below the amount that requires them to pay your benefit's. The benefit's for a part time employee are much less then that of a full time employee. Check that aspect out first then seek legal advise if you need to but be aware that if you do, you will most likely be fired. The people they are looking to hire will most likely be at a much more reduced income thus still saving them money. You need to decide which is more important to you, your job or your feeling used. You can't have both.
Answered by unknown friend

Coming from a managers point if view.... Any business is allotted a certain percentage of total sales for payroll....usually 11-15% of sales....If the company went OVER their allotted payroll budget last month...they may cut hours the following month (or months) to get back on track. As far as your offer letter....as long as they are paying you the AMOUNT per hour that they promised you..they as a company have the right to cut your hours to as low as 32 hours a week and still consider you full time. A couple of key questions you should ask before taking an offer is.. "Is your turnover rate high?" (How often do you have to replace employees?) Find out if the company has a lot of people quitting on a regular basis and why...this will give you an idea of the quality of the company you are applying for. Find out if Virginia is a "right to work" state. This information should be posted somewhere in the employee break room, or above/around the time clock... I know it sucks, but unfortunately this is a common practice in modern business... In business its all about the bottom line....your slimmer paycheck is of little or no concern to the "company" when it comes down to keeping the doors open and the profits rolling in.
Answered by Mike L

Sounds like you are working for Best Buy. Not a good company to work for. I have heard MANY horror stories of that company - not standing behind those "protection plans" they force on the customers, and sometimes the geek squads dont fix the machines, but strip and resell them. So the store gets paid twice for the same machine. Cutting employee hours is typical - since they want to MAKE as much money as possible. If you argue with them about your hours, you could find yourself out of a job - because there are lots of others who are willing to work 32 hours. And you're probably not in a union, so I dont think you have much in the way of rights. You need to find out if your state is an at will state. If yes - then being fired for any reason is no protection.
Answered by Francesca Thomas

Sounds like you need to get out of retail and get a real job.
Answered by Rick B

Retail sucks. Next to food service, it's probably one of the worst industries to be in.
Answered by Chad