Work, money, health, fun - MASSIVE disturbance in the balance, with computer trouble!
 

A little backstory:
I've been working at the local library for a little over a year now. Seems like much longer to be honest - reason is that I really don't enjoy it, or rather, I really don't like my supervisor. She does not pull her weight. She gossips, thinking I cannot understand if she does so in Spanish, and tries to pass it off as business. She ties up the library's phone lines with personal calls. Furthermore, she is incredibly rude, pushy, typical boss from hell, and thinks she deserves respect not only for being my supervisor, but just for being OLDER THAN ME. This has been the case since I started.
Before long she began taking much longer breaks than she was supposed to. The time increase was gradual, so at first I'd thought she was probably just making up for extra time she spent there before or after. Then her 15 minute break turned into an hour or more, her 30 minute lunch was doubled on a GOOD day, and going to check the mail (the post office is practically next door) and use the bathroom now takes ANOTHER hour.
Well, I began to suspect her of padding her hours. I went and had a talk with her supervisor about this. She said she wouldn't tell her it was me who caught her...but either she lied or my supervisor figured it out; the next day I was confronted about it and I've been catching even more hell since.

And that's where the real funny part comes in.

I've mentioned a few times that I have photosensitive epilepsy. About two months ago I had to submit ADA paperwork regarding this. The paperwork said I'd hear from them within ten days. I did not. I just heard from them yesterday, actually.

Their "solution"? Demote me based on lies that my supervisor has told (including that I am bad with computers - may I just say that at the age where most children are strggling to walk, I was using a command prompt with my father?), blame my false incompetence on my disability, cut my hours by 34%, and hire someone in over me.

First, I am NOT the weak link. Second, this reeks of illegal retaliation.

Now, because there has very clearly been a crime commited here, I have remedies, that's not what I'm worried about. What I'm worried about is how to deal with LIFE on the lower salary in the meantime. I have a few other things I can do, but nothing reliable enough to pay the bills. This is stressing me out so much that I had a seizure today, no flashing lights involved - it was not a fun experience. What's more, it happened at work when, surprise, my supervisor wasn't there. It was quiet enough there as well that no one noticed (the fact that it wasn't the typical kind involving falling down may have helped the no one noticing as well, but...). It went unseen. I can't figure out if that's good or bad.

What's even more frustrating is that I'm typing this on my phone - my computer is dead; my hard drive is destroyed. This is the second tome this has happened. I decided before I got the news to get a solid state drive this time so this won't happen again. So now I'm looking at a $750 hard drive...and no way to get it because my boss decided to rip me off, and no computer until I do the impossible.

I had big plans for later this year; they may be ruined by either legal proceedings or just lack of money. I've been working my ass off to make it possible. Now, no matter how optimistic I try to be, if I try to be realistic it doesn't look like it's gonna happen.

She's only won one round...but the timing sure as hell stings. x__x

Oh god that's terrible. That supervisor should be fired for disregard for others and her work. (sorry for my typing, it's bad right now)

This advice wouldn't help, since I would say the wait and see thing. Since going to her supervisor would be another bad idea. But I wonder, if you can get someone to help support you in her bad actions at work. Or just by getting support, like actual paperwork or something, if it's possible.

Dang, I just wouldn't know what to really do other than that. T^T ;=;'' sorry D:

For once, I have the support of my family on this one. Tomorrow, when I can speak to a live person on the fraud hotline, I'm doing that, and I'm also going looking for an attorney to help me deal with my losses...and quite fortunately, I have an appointment with my neurologist tomorrow; I can get the fact that the stress gave me a seizure on paper. I'll get my driver's license suspended again, but...

I've also been documenting things that really don't seem right, just in case it came to this, for a few months now - smartphones are great for doing that discreetly. ;)

What I do from there on, as far as the case goes, really depends on what my attorney advises me to do. Unfortunately...in the meantime, there's still the issue of money.

Well...I just hope my supervisor enjoys her next job cleaning toilets. >D

I'm glad things are working out in your favor ;D

Actually, so far the situation sucks - I just know what to do and have a prescription for tranquilizers (not using those any more than necessary, by the way)...and always have been good at imagining how things will be when I win. XD; Another thing I'm worried about is...if this goes to court, and it likely will, how will I afford proper courtroom attire? Even THAT'S out of my reach right now, and not looking prepared will hurt my case...>_<; That is how tight money is getting right now. My pay is being cut by effectively, about 45%, all based on lies and passing the buck - as it stands, I can afford to pay my bills, replace the minor important things that break, and maybe get a nice thing or two or save for a big exciting thing. Now replacing even minor things has to wait, let alone my computer's hard drive.

If the legal crap wouldn't eat my free time, I'd make stuff and sell it online, but the legal crap undoubtedly WILL take more time than I have.
Maybe I can get out of working but get paid anyway...tch, that'd be nice. But unfortunately I'm not my supervisor.

Sorry, my cynicism is showing. XD;;

Well I hope things get better for you. If you start making things, you should put up links to an etsy shop and see if users here like your stuff? :)

Dang, hmm you consider about getting another job? Or that's not another choice?

Not saying that it's unnecessary resolving your problem at your current job, just wanting to see if that could be another option. Hopefully it won't go to court, since it would probably make your status bad or something like that. Hmm this is hard to think about lol and to help out. >:

@Keyori: I have thought about that. The problem is finding the time to make anything and the money for supplies...usually I'm asked to really undercut myself and it's not worth the time I put into it; it still doesn't pay the bills. But...I'm going to give it a shot. I think I can probably get a few "designer eyepatches" up before the end of the week...

@sephy: Unfortunately my status is ALREADY bad, with a load of false complaints against me. Going to court can really only make it better, by not only proving those complaints were fraudulent, but showing that hey, I ran the library at age 20. Most people need a degree to do that. >_>;

Unfortunately, thanks to my disability, I'm rather limited in what I can do. My current job (for two more weeks >_>) is one of the few I can actually DO that pays the bills. For instance, I could be a waitress, except this is a tourist town and people LOVE taking flash photos...in rapid succession...x__x;; I could wash dishes, but it wouldn't pay the bills. Pretty much everything outside of this is out because of the false complaints.

Basically, I'm screwed, job-wise, until I win this case...unless by some miracle my music career takes off. xD;

There IS a law against retaliation, fortunately - that's what my biggest sticking point here is, and also what keeps taking this to court from looking bad on my record, at least legally (legally, I cannot be denied a future job for blowing the whistle). But, since this town is pretty much the rich man's refuge from the law, I doubt I'll be able to get a job in this town after this - luckily I want to leave this town anyway, this might be my chance.