Illegal actions and comments?

I was hired specifically (employer stated as long as I wanted it) for the morning shift (6AM-10AM) by a cleaning contractor on 1/12/15, which turned out to be instead until noon, M-F. On 8/15/15, I was taken to the hospital for a life threatening condition, hospitalized for 7 days, had an abdominal drainage tube/line inserted for 5 weeks however, I returned to my regular shift/position on 9/8/15. I was to have out patient surgery on 9/29/15 but due to improvement by that date, the tube was removed, and I was released (with drs. note), and allowed to return on the following day. When I informed my employer of this, she said I would be working the afternoon shift for the rest of the week. I ended up working this shift until 12/4/15. I went from 25 hrs. a week, to 16 1/2, which greatly reduced my wages. No reason was ever given for the change. I could not survive on this so, I gave my notice on 12/3/15 (by text, her favorite means of communicating). I had acquired another job that was anxious for me to begin but as we were getting off on 12/4/15, a co-worker had spoken with the employer, who told me to turn in my badge as I left that day. Also following my return, I was made to reapply for my job, which meant that the paid vacation that I would have been due in Jan. 2016, was no longer valid. I attempted to return my shirts and gate pass on the next payday, which was 12/11/15. She knew that I was doing this via text messages, all other employees checks were there, except mine. One of the employees looked where the boss usually left the checks (boss is in Va. Beach/Newport News but had brought checks down and left before I arrived). I was upset, and went outside to text boss. Security came out, asked me what the problem was, I explained, and they asked me to leave. Employer texted me later, and said she had mailed my check on Wed. morning, 12/9/15, which should have arrived to me on that Friday. When I received my check, it was post marked Thurs. PM, on 12/10/15. Being that she knew I was coming, I took this as another deliberate, spiteful, revengeful action taken by her.
This was not the only "situation" I had experienced during my employment. I was the oldest, and only white person (all others are black) employed at this location. (Employer is also black).
As we were speaking one day (just her and I), she asked if I knew anyone looking for a job. I said "yes". She then asked me if the person was fat. I hadn't seen her for awhile so, I said that she may be larger than me (170 lbs.) She said she did not hire fat people because they were lazy, and couldn't do the job. Then I she asked if she was black or white. She immediately said, "never mind, that doesn't matter".
I could go on about the manner in which I was spoken to on several occasions, being embarrassed in front of employees, her knit picking at trivial things, that I believe were done in the effort of forcing me to quit, or to return the sarcasm.
Does any of this sound illegal? Thank you for any help!

0 answers  |  asked Dec 15, 2015 4:01 PM [EST]  |  applies to Virginia

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