I work for a company in southern oklahoma. Recently I enrolled back into college where i go to class on tuesday and thursday. My immediate supervisor sent in a PA Form for me to work Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for a total of 32 hours per week. Without my knowledge, I was switched to Part-time status. Our company handbook states that a full-time employee is considered as an employee who works 30 or more hours a week and part-time is 29 hours or less. I was under the assumption that I was still a full time employee with benefits and PTO. This happened in august. Last week I was notified by my insurance carrier that I had been dropped. I have had a weeks worth of talks with my supervisors, Human Resources and even our corporate office and I was told today that I would not be allowed full time status because it would set a bad example for other employees. I was also told that I was labeled as part time because I had called in twice in the last month and a half(this was for a sick child both times and as I said earlier I was told that I was a full time employee and was still receiving both Paid and Unpaid time off) Where do I stand on this issue because my option right now is to go Part-time or quit. Are there any legalities involved in this issue. Understand, this is not a job that I enjoy but the benefits have kept me there for the last few years.

You would need to have an attorney in your state look at the handbook to see if the "floor" of 30 employees for benefits is considered binding.