Wondering about my full time hours being cut

[Eliza456]

Hi everyone I have a question about my employment I was hired as a full time employee and recently some downsizing is secretly going on in my workplace. I now recently discovered my hours have been cut back to 35 a week is this legal?

 

[LdiJ]

Hi everyone I have a question about my employment I was hired as a full time employee and recently some downsizing is secretly going on in my workplace. I now recently discovered my hours have been cut back to 35 a week is this legal?

There is nothing illegal about that. Have they cut off your benefits?

 

[cbg]

Of course it's legal. Unless you have a legally binding and enforceable contract that expressly states how many hours you must be given per week, you are entitled to work exactly as many hours as your employer wants you to; no more and no less. Since for purposes of the ACA, which despite what you read in the papers is still the law, anything over 30 hours is still considered full time for health insurance and since you can be less than half time and still qualify for most retirement plans, I'm going to assume that the answer to the above question is No. If it is not, post back because in that case you've got a far different question than you think, and please include what benefits were cut as it makes a difference.

 

[HRZ]

State may matter, please add it and your prior normal hours, those might in a few cases matter .

 

[Zigner]

State may matter, please add it and your prior normal hours, those might in a few cases matter .

In what state would the employer not be allowed to reduce an employee's hours?

 

[HRZ]

In all states as far as I know ..( absent issues of discrimination by age, race, sex etc) ..in some states the size or % of the hour cut may trigger UC or partial UC eligibility ...( a cut of 20 % or more would be required in NJ where I last addressed UC but we don't know where OP may be )

 

[cbg]

Much as I hate to admit it, HRZ does have a point. No matter what the state, the reduction is going to be legal; no question about that. But he's right that there are states where prior notice of a reduction is required. That will NOT make the reduction illegal, but may require that she be paid for her former schedule for the duration of a state required notice period. It's also possible - unlikely, but possible - that UI may be available. However, we'd have to know the state to say if either of these things would be true.

 

[Just Blue]

Much as I hate to admit it, HRZ does have a point. No matter what the state, the reduction is going to be legal; no question about that. But he's right that there are states where prior notice of a reduction is required. That will NOT make the reduction illegal, but may require that she be paid for her former schedule for the duration of a state required notice period. It's also possible - unlikely, but possible - that UI may be available. However, we'd have to know the state to say if either of these things would be true.

Per OP's posting history the state is Michigan.

 

[cbg]

In which case my original answer stands.

 

[Eliza456]

I work and live in Michigan I didn't notice at this point if my 401k has declined I do have medical benefits but its to expensive to use. And I didn't get any formal letter or statement as to why.

 

[Eliza456]

I did sign some papers when I was offered the full time position.

 

[Zigner]

I did sign some papers when I was offered the full time position.

"Some papers" doesn't necessarily rise to the level of a contract.

 

[HRZ]

Rarely very rarely is an engagement letter a contract as to anything but the start...employer is free to change hours, days , schedules or rates going forward ...and assume for now it's not a contract .

Short answer is 2nd job or vote with your feet

 

[cbg]

Everyone signs papers when they start a new job. That doesn't mean you have a contract for any specific number of hours. Nothing in Federal law or Michigan law requires that you be given any formal letter or notice and in no state are they required to give you a reason. If you notice that you're no longer enrolled in the 401(k) come back and tell us. (I don't mean that the amount being contributed is reduced - I mean that you are no longer enrolled at all.) Otherwise, your employer has done nothing illegal.