F
fitzer
Guest
In April 1996, I was hired as Office Manager for a small business. At that time I was an hourly employee. It was agreed when I was hired that after 90 days, a performance review would be done. If my work was good, I would be given a raise. In July 1996, at my 90 day review, I was given the raise as well as being put on salary. I had been working overtime and being compensated for it, but decided to accept salary because of the additional perks it included.
At the end of November 1999, I notified my supervisor that I am pregnant and due in late June 2000. Since that day I have heard from two co-workers that my supervisors have been asking if I plan to return to work after my maternity leave. Of course they said they didn’t know. Finally, a supervisor asked me my plans. I told him that beyond taking 6 to 12 weeks for maternity leave, I didn’t know. If during my leave I decided not to return, I’d let them know two weeks before my leave was over. He said he’d prefer to know now, give me a nice gift and we could part on good terms. I again told him I couldn’t say until after my baby is born whether or not I’d want to continue working.
On January 6, 2000, another of my supervisors personally gave me my paycheck, and at that time explained that I had been taken off salary. I was the last salaried employee until then, but with that check they had already implemented hourly wages. (They had the hours worked because all employees punch a time clock for attendance purposes.) None of the reasons for the change had to do with my performance as Office Manager. Some of his reasons for the change were:
-- Numerous Dr. appointments would be necessary for the baby.
-- I may get tired near the end of my pregnancy and want to work fewer hours.
-- Being pregnant, I may not want to drive in the bad winter weather and being an hourly employee, I wouldn’t have to feel guilty for waiting until the snow melted.
I feel that none of the reasons were justified, and want to know if I may have a discrimination case.
At the end of November 1999, I notified my supervisor that I am pregnant and due in late June 2000. Since that day I have heard from two co-workers that my supervisors have been asking if I plan to return to work after my maternity leave. Of course they said they didn’t know. Finally, a supervisor asked me my plans. I told him that beyond taking 6 to 12 weeks for maternity leave, I didn’t know. If during my leave I decided not to return, I’d let them know two weeks before my leave was over. He said he’d prefer to know now, give me a nice gift and we could part on good terms. I again told him I couldn’t say until after my baby is born whether or not I’d want to continue working.
On January 6, 2000, another of my supervisors personally gave me my paycheck, and at that time explained that I had been taken off salary. I was the last salaried employee until then, but with that check they had already implemented hourly wages. (They had the hours worked because all employees punch a time clock for attendance purposes.) None of the reasons for the change had to do with my performance as Office Manager. Some of his reasons for the change were:
-- Numerous Dr. appointments would be necessary for the baby.
-- I may get tired near the end of my pregnancy and want to work fewer hours.
-- Being pregnant, I may not want to drive in the bad winter weather and being an hourly employee, I wouldn’t have to feel guilty for waiting until the snow melted.
I feel that none of the reasons were justified, and want to know if I may have a discrimination case.