I am working at a restaurant chain and I have been there for 10 months. At first everything was good, but after about 3 months things started going downhill. First the manager put me on lobby duty. I haven't worked the cash register since then and this was back in mid May. It might have been earlier.

I didn't mind being on lobby duty except when my hours started getting cut back. I started coming in later and later and leaving earlier as well until my normal schedule was 11:30 to 2 and 12-2 on Sundays. The reasoning behind this was because I wasn't working. I was doing a crappy job, etc. The head manager never saw any of this he just took the word of the assistant manager who hasn't liked me since I was 16.

The head manager even went so far as to tell my dad I was doing a horrible job as well which made him jump down my throat. Thankfully I set him straight in several ways. He even went so far as to send in friends that I didn't know he had to watch me. They told him I was doing great too.

On top of all this, in the 10 months I've been working dozen upon dozens of others have quit because they can't take the assistant manager. She is hateful, she treats people like crap especially if you don't kiss her butt.

So this is my question, in the last 2 months my paychecks have progressively been getting smaller. Going from 60 and 50 dollars every two weeks all the way down to the paycheck I will be getting for these last two weeks which will be 12 dollars if I am lucky. I have worked 2 hours in 2 weeks.

Isn't there something in the labor laws that can help me?

GotSmart, I had to delete your post. Although you did include the copywrite information, which is usually all I require, in this case the article specifically stated that it could not be re-distributed or published. You are free to resubmit with a link to the article instead of cutting and pasting.

OP, unless you have a valid and enforceable employment contract that guarantees you a specific number of hours, there is nothing in labor law that will help you. They can schedule you for as many or as few hours as they choose. You are working for an "equal opportunity jerk" - she treats everyone badly. You are not being singled out for an illegal reason (the fact that she has not liked you since you were 16 is not an illegal reason).

You might be better off finding other employment. Sometimes it takes having good employees "vote with their feet" before management takes notice.

GotSmart, I had to delete your post. Although you did include the copywrite information, which is usually all I require, in this case the article specifically stated that it could not be re-distributed or published. You are free to resubmit with a link to the article instead of cutting and pasting.

Gotcha. Here is one that does not have that restriction. Just the link, Ma'am!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/03/BUGKBNBRTD1.DTL&feed=rss.business

OP, unless you have a valid and enforceable employment contract that guarantees you a specific number of hours, there is nothing in labor law that will help you. They can schedule you for as many or as few hours as they choose. You are working for an "equal opportunity jerk" - she treats everyone badly. You are not being singled out for an illegal reason (the fact that she has not liked you since you were 16 is not an illegal reason).

You might be better off finding other employment. Sometimes it takes having good employees "vote with their feet" before management takes notice.

" Equal opportunity jerk" Well put!

Printing off a copy of that for the boss, will also help others that might go to work there.

At your age and with your work ethic, you should find a better job quickly.