I work as a bartender. It is bad enough that I am not eligible for health insurance, and people don't really tip a pregnant bartender as much as they do the little skinny bartender, but now my boss is cutting my shifts.
I have worked the same bar with the same schedule for the past 2 years. I have consistently worked 4 nights a week. I have always worked the busy shifts and been the one that the managers ask to work the holidays and events because I am very good at what I do.
Now I am 5 months pregnant and my GM keeps asking when I am going to start taking time off. At first I just thought that he was trying to prepare for replacing me, but now that I am starting to show, he has cut my shifts. This week I am only on the schedule for 1 shift!! And that one shift is a day shift! Basically that equates to about a $350 per week paycut! I can't afford to only make $60 or $70 a week.
Is this legal??
Everything I have read on the laws are all talking about how people have the right to take off work, but don't I also have the right to CONTINUE to work?
:confused:

I forgot to mention that I have never had to leave work for a doctor's appointment, or had to leave early due to morning sickness or anything. This pregnancy has not effected my job performance in any way other than the way that I look.

Shellfish, have you asked your manager directly why he is cutting your shift?

Yes. I asked my direct manager about it, and he told me that it was the General manager's decision. He also told me in confidence that the GM has been pressuring him to encourage me to leave. He said that he would bring up the situation in their weekly meeting this evening and get back to me. I have not gone to the GM about it yet because I want to follow the chain of command and I want to be fully prepared. He is not very good with the people skills and can be very frustrating to talk to.

How many employees are there where you work?

This sounds very similar to my situation, but I am a hostess at a bar. My GM took me off the door a few weeks ago, for no reason. Then when I finally talked to him, he said he didn't want anyone working past 5 months, however, there is a waitress who is due in less than 2 weeks still working, day shift though. He also told me to call back in 4 to 6 weeks, coincidentally, I am due in 3 weeks.

probably about 60, including management.

In that case, no it is not legal.

is there a government agency that I should go to? Or do I have to hire a lawyer and sue? And what do I sue for? The money I make is in tips and varies from week to week, night to night. I have kept a log (I'm a real journal person) of every amount that I have made over the past year and a half so I could come up with an "average" that I make on a particular shift, but is that enough to prove that is what I would have made?

File a complaint of pregnancy discrimination with the EEOC. You have to have a right to sue letter from them before you can file a lawsuit.