As most people know, and as I have come to realize by reading most of these posts, Virginia is definitely a Right to Work state and the employee pretty much hasn't any rights (except a limited few). I know I haven't any real rights to harassment, but here's my dilemma.

I work for a large Retail company who are feeling the pinch from the recent economic problems. They have recently had to let all Seasonal and most Part-time personnel go. Full time employees now seem to be targeted by our particular manager. Not just any full time, but those that have been around for awhile and are getting paid a decent wage. I have watched her slowly manipulate and change procedures well enough to drive people out. I have also noticed she will select a couple at a time to do this to. Now it's my turn.

She has lied directly to my face without blinking an eye, and I have gone to the sources to see if it was true. I have also kept a notebook with all the lies and inconsistencies I had noted. I believe she is trying to push me out the door that way I will not have any opportunity to apply for unemployment.

I do have plans to leave, I am going to school to learn a different field and I am putting out applications. However, if I leave before I achieve either one, I will not have any monetary sources to hold me over except cashing in my 401K which I hate to do.

There are so many other behavioral issues I can write about in regards to her, but I see this is getting long. Can anyone help with suggestions or start a dialog with me?

Thanks.

First, like many posters, you seem to have confused "right to work" state with "employment at will" state. Right to Work means that you cannot be forced to join a union (i.e, you ahve a right to work at a unionized place without being a member of the union).
Employment-at-will is the doctrine followed by all states (for the most part) meaning that the employer and the employee each have the right to terminate the employment for any reasont hat isn't prohibited by law (like based on someone's race, religion, etc).

Apart from that, you aren't clear on why this manager is treating you badly, but it doesn't seem like something illegal. If she is behaving this way just because she doesn't like you, or because she has some personal resentment against full-timers who have been around a while, it's unprofessional, but not illegal. If she is treating you badly because of a protected class you might belong to, then it's illegal.

This just sounds like an unwise manager. Sure if she drives out all the long-timers with experience, she'll save money on payroll and benefits, but the cost of hiring an training newbies, plus the added headache of managing them day to day is a bigger cost, in my book.


This doesn't mean that employees don't have any rights, it just reflects that we all have the right to be a jerk, as long as we're not breaking a law.

If you are worried about not having income or employment if you quit, then don't quit. Stay there. If she fires you, then apply for unemployment.

Well, "right to work" means you don't have to join a union to get a particular job. You're thinking about "at-will employment".

I don't know what we can tell you. Short of a union contract or bona fide employment contract regarding reasons for termination or order in which employees must be discharged, there isn't really anything you can do legally, because no law is being violated that I can see (and that would be in any state, not just yours).

I'm not a behaviorist, so I'll let somebody else respond to reference to that.

Thank you for correcting me on the terminology, I appreciate it. I do plan to hang in there even though there are days I could walk. I have always said, "I won't leave they have to fire me." However, if I do find other employment then I won't hesitate to leave.

Thank you for correcting me on the terminology, I appreciate it. I do plan to hang in there even though there are days I could walk. I have always said, "I won't leave they have to fire me." However, if I do find other employment then I won't hesitate to leave.

BTDT, believe me. In this economy, though, jobs are very hard to come by. :(