I don't know if there are any laws with regards to my issue. I am concerned because I was the first bartender hired at a new bar. I've been working there for the past 9 months since we've opened. The owners knew that I am a full-time student and they agreed to work with my schedule. They promoted another bartender to manager. I had no problem with that. When the bar business slowed down due to the winter months, the manager decided to stop bartending and to go to work in the kitchen. Now that Spring is here, she is coming back to bartending and is threatening to take some of my shifts. I explained to her that I have seniority. She claims that all of the bartenders have to take the good shifts as well as the bad shifts. How is this possible. Do I have any recourse? I do not want to lose my shifts. They are the best shifts and I feel that since I have the most seniority, I should be able to keep them. Is that correct?

Next, they hired another bartender in November and promoted her in January to co-manager. They never even offered me the position even though I have seniority. Is that appropriate?

Senority means squat unless your unionized

I do not want to lose my shifts. They are the best shifts and I feel that since I have the most seniority, I should be able to keep them. Is that correct?

No. It is not.

Next, they hired another bartender in November and promoted her in January to co-manager. They never even offered me the position even though I have seniority. Is that appropriate?

Yes. It is.

There are no laws in any state addressing seniority. In the absence of a legally binding contract or CBA that specifically says otherwise, an employer is completely free to give as much or as little weight to seniority as they care to. Seniority gives you no additional rights whatsoever, to the "good shifts" , promotions, or anything else.

Thank you both very much. I appreciate the info. :p