Disclaimer: English is my first language and I'm not on mobile, I'm just a bad writer smh
For context, I (21f) am a barista at a local coffee shop chain. There are 3 locations in my city, and one about an hour's drive away. Right now, I am paid $9.50/hr plus tips. I've been working at this shop for nearly a year now, and I learned one of the new hires was getting $12.50/hr. Naturally, I set up a meeting with the person who oversees pay and all of the locations in my city. This person, who we will call Isabella, does not work at my store, but instead at the main store downtown. The meeting went decently well, and I was offered $12 after an evaluation with my manager, and $13 after a month of “good performance”.
Now for the actual story:
Today, I was talking to one of my coworkers, Ava. (not her real name) She asked me how the meeting went, and I told her, including what I was told about my pay. Ava was recently promoted to a shift lead, and is making $12.50. I had heard from my previous manager that shift leads make $15, and she texted Isabella to ask her if it was true. Immediately after, myself, Ava, and our store manager all received a text from Isabella which read:
“We do not discuss our pay or raises with other employees. Everyone's pay is different there's a lot we take into consideration when we discuss pay raises and what an employees starts at”
Isabella then called the store, and asked to speak to me. She told me that discussing our pay is not allowed as it “causes drama.” She then said that my raise “was not guaranteed,” just that was how much I could potentially get paid. She also mentioned that this may affect my raise as it was poor performance and “not putting my best foot forward.” The only response I have made thus far is an apology, as I don't want to dig my own grave.
I have no idea what to do now. I know that restrictions on discussing pay is illegal, but I don't even know what I should do about it.
TL;DR: I talked about my pay with my coworkers, and now my raise is being threatened.