You should discuss with an employment attorney. If they are singling you out because of your membership in a protected class, then you may have a...

Generally speaking, something like this happening that infrequently is not enough to give you a claim.

Defamation cases are very hard to win for a variety of reasons. However, you can use the falsity of their statements to help establish...

Your employer cannot do that. You should speak with an employment attorney or contact the New York State Department of Labor.

Based upon that reading, and without seeing the entire handbook, it appears that they would not have to pay out unused PTO.

it is not a good way to handle things, but I do not think there is anything illegal about it.

The policy cannot override the law.

First, I hope that you baby is ok. There are laws that cover this and if they take action against you I would reach out to an employment attorney...

Unless you have a contract or are part of a union it should not be an issue.

Bring rude is not against the law, so there is not a claim there unless they were discriminating against you.