Uncertain about full time status in New Mexico

[RETAILWORKER]

Being a retail worker in New Mexico is hell to start with first of all. You are at the mercy of your employer and many things are based on favoritism. That being said my major retail employer no longer hires full time associates, period. They keep threatening to "make everyone part-time" I have been full time for eight years, can they simply one day go in and say you are all part time now, can they schedule fewer hours and force us into part time . They are also unclear as to what is considered part-time hours as this has changed numerous times. They have said if any of us move from our classification we are automatically made part time. I thought once upon a time they had to have a certain number of full time positions given this is one of the worlds largest companies and they have full time work and are open full time, shouldn't they have to provide full time work? Can they force us to go part-time? My particular location has over 500 employees: no full time work there right? This issue will effect thousands of workers in my city alone. So can they take our status away? I know they plan to make it difficult to keep. New Mexico is a terrible place to be a worker, they seem to be able to make up their own laws and have no regard for human rights, safety, and livelihoods. I have seen employers who work their employees while sick and injured further injuring them. Everyday at work in New Mexico is like your first day, you have no assurance that you'll be there. All that seems to protect us are Federal Laws. New Mexico is a dangerous place to work.

[Pattymd]

I thought once upon a time they had to have a certain number of full time positions given this is one of the worlds largest companies and they have full time work and are open full time, shouldn't they have to provide full time work?

No law requires this.

can they simply one day go in and say you are all part time now, can they schedule fewer hours and force us into part time .

Without a employment contract or CBA to the contrary, yes.

The answers to the above are not specific to New Mexico, they are true in all 50 states.

The economy stinks all over. The employer is obviously trying to keep most of their people employed, at least to some extent, than laying off a lot of employees altogether. It's a tough time to be in retail and businesses have to make tough decisions. They aren't picking on just you.

[RETAILWORKER]

The fact is my employer is greedy and is just riding the trend to lay off and cut hours and is in no jeopardy of ever losing any profits. It sees this as a way to further take more for itself.

[cbg]

Even if that is true, it does not violate any laws.