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Thursday Troubleshooter: Is There Any Action CDA Can Take About Reduced Work Hours?

Thursday Troubleshooter: Is There Any Action CDA Can Take About Reduced Work Hours?
from Team Troubleshooter

QUESTION: My doctor has recently reduced his hours from 30 hours a week to 18. I cannot live off of this! I do not have a contract or written agreement about hours the office needs to provide me per week. Are there any labor laws or legislation about this? Would it be wrong to find other employment at another office to supplement my income? Do you recommend that most certified dental assistants (CDAs) have a written contract for their jobs?

ANSWER FROM REBECCA BOARTFIELD, SHRM-SCP, Bent Ericksen & Associates:
It is unfortunate that you find yourself in a situation in which your employer has made the decision to cut your hours. While this has put a burden on you, there is no labor law or legislation about this. Employers are free to make determinations about their employees' hours as needed for their businesses. Cutting an employee's hours is not illegal as long as the action is not driven by something that is discriminatory or retaliatory.

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