Sabrespoint
05-03-2007, 10:42 AM
My wife works for a major cable news company in Secaucus, NJ. Returning from her extended maternity leave (she took the maximum amount of time) they changed her days from M-F to Weekends-Wednesday.
She told them that would be tough because of daycare (we need 7 days now) but they didn't budge.
Then, after a few weeks, they told her she needed to come in at 5am on Sundays. She told them that would be tough because it's difficult for our nanny to be at the house by 4am. But they didn't budge. So we worked it out.
Then a few weeks after that they told her she had to be in at 4am on Sundays. This time my wife refused, saying the nanny couldn't come earlier. Also, my wife once worked those hours but had to get off them because she couldn't sleep. She saw a doctor and was advised not to work any overnight shifts.
Her supervisor and HR dept still won't budge, wanting her in on Sundays at 4am. They referred my wife's medical reason to their "health and wellness department" and they allegedly told HR "one hour won't make a difference".
My wife insisted she has a valid medical reason so they then asked that she sign a form to have her medical records released to them in which she has yet to sign. She also reminded them of the strain it is because of day care coverage and HR told my wife "day care is not their problem."
It's important to note there is a legitimate shift that starts at 4am with the rest of her team now reporting at that hour.
But we suspect they want to force her out so they can fill her staff position with someone with out family obligations, someone who can and will work any hours, staying as late as needed, etc.
We suspect this because upon return from maternity leave they offered her a severance package. After turning it down her hours changed and then they became very critical over "mistakes" she has made while others she works with don't receive any reprimands for the same "mistakes" (as far as she knows)
Is there anything she can do?
Thanks
Frustrated in NJ
She told them that would be tough because of daycare (we need 7 days now) but they didn't budge.
Then, after a few weeks, they told her she needed to come in at 5am on Sundays. She told them that would be tough because it's difficult for our nanny to be at the house by 4am. But they didn't budge. So we worked it out.
Then a few weeks after that they told her she had to be in at 4am on Sundays. This time my wife refused, saying the nanny couldn't come earlier. Also, my wife once worked those hours but had to get off them because she couldn't sleep. She saw a doctor and was advised not to work any overnight shifts.
Her supervisor and HR dept still won't budge, wanting her in on Sundays at 4am. They referred my wife's medical reason to their "health and wellness department" and they allegedly told HR "one hour won't make a difference".
My wife insisted she has a valid medical reason so they then asked that she sign a form to have her medical records released to them in which she has yet to sign. She also reminded them of the strain it is because of day care coverage and HR told my wife "day care is not their problem."
It's important to note there is a legitimate shift that starts at 4am with the rest of her team now reporting at that hour.
But we suspect they want to force her out so they can fill her staff position with someone with out family obligations, someone who can and will work any hours, staying as late as needed, etc.
We suspect this because upon return from maternity leave they offered her a severance package. After turning it down her hours changed and then they became very critical over "mistakes" she has made while others she works with don't receive any reprimands for the same "mistakes" (as far as she knows)
Is there anything she can do?
Thanks
Frustrated in NJ
