I've been getting alot of harrasment at work as you all know. I havnt contacted the EEOC yet cause im scared. I was wondering if I posted me Inncident logs on here if you all would look it over and see if its enough to even bring before the eeoc.
Couldn't hurt
Any and all forms of harassment is not tolerated by the eeoc. If you do do see acceptable results from your management then you should report it to them. Harassment is a major category in the federal labor laws that all employers must follow and not show any bias when an incident is reported. Hope everything works out for you.
Transgender harassment is the part of the sex (gender) part of the EEOC. They now have made it clear with atleast 2 cases that have finished up and i bet there are many more that have been filed.
It is time to kick some #ss. I wish they made the ruling years ago it would have saved me and countless others major hardships.
Also i wonder whats the statue of limitations????
Good luck
Izzy
1. Sounds like harassment. I'd take action as soon as possible.
2. Take these down! Before someone quotes them. These posts are freely available to the public. I wouldn't risk someone from your work coming across them. If you have access to the private areas of Susan's, probably OK to post them there, otherwise I would not recommend putting them somewhere your management (and their legal team) could get at them.
Hoping for the best for you Teela.
Good luck girl friend is all I can say. Several times in early life I tried to transition at work to match my real life. It never worked out for me & I never found a way to enjoy a normal womans life 24/7 while working for someone else so I started my own business & worked for myself.
It's not fair these days so for yourself & all of us try to find a way to keep your job & do not allow this treatment to good hard working people that do not deserve this treatment just because they need to correct their gender.
Teela, your employer has created a "hostile work environment," in violation of the law, and has failed to correct the situation.
The phrase "hostile work environment" seems self-explanatory but in the legal sense, there are some conditions that must be met before the commencement of any litigation that will consider the claims of a complainant as harassment. A definition of hostile work environment here, will thus be in order.
In general, a hostile work environment ensues when there is discriminatory conduct or behavior in the place of work that is unwelcome and offensive to an employee or group of employees based on a protected class status.
What does this mean? In litigation, the complainant must be a member of a protected class under that state's law (women, disabled, and a specific race) and the complaint should pertain directly to perceived discrimination that specifically targets that class. For instance, a boss who yells all the time may cause an intimidating or stressful work environment but as long as he does this in a general manner and refrains from making any discriminatory statements about a particular protected class, then he is not subject to harassment suits. He may be liable for other charges, however, such as intentional infliction of emotional distress.
http://www.hostileworkenvironmentguide.com/definitionofhostileworkenvironment.html
Teela,
I read the entire text and believe you have a reason to feel concerned. I think you can easily report this if you want to because it really does appear to be a hostile work environment.
Why do you think you think you may be getting fired? In any event, I hope that's the case.
On a side note, there is a special place in hell for people that can't respect other people. Jesus, you have some interesting coworkers.
P.S. I think you may want to take down the text in case your employer sees it. It may be wise to be discreet about the specifics until the issue is dealt with. They could use this as you bashing the company and could try and claim your firing is over that. That may sound paranoid, but I'd try to avoid giving them any leeway and try to be as cautious as possible.
Teela,
You have given them more than enough time to correct things. It is time to contact the EEOC and file a complaint.
Is it ok to loose faith in humanity now?
Honestly what is wrong with people!
Teela as everyone above has stated, send in that complaint!
Teela - I think you have a very good case with the EEOC. File it and make them find out what happens when they condone this kind of shameful behavior.
I can barely belive what they are doing. How can a person be, just so mean? And for what? Your not hurting anything or anyone? And you quote feminine. You look adorable in that skirt in your picture. Huggggs
Hugs Teela,
Hope everything is OK. I cannot understand how people can be so cruel. You are a normal human being, a person who like all people deserves respect. How can people who are working in aged care or support care areas be so unfeeling? I think it is very troubling and I wonder if they also abuse their clients!
Take them down and clean them out!!
Cindy
Hire a lawyer and follow their advice. You have responsibility to our community, such as it is, and take all appropriate legal action.
Quote from: Joules on September 23, 2013, 05:48:04 AM
I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but the EEOC is a toothless, overworked, underfunded pipe dream.
Just for grins, I once pursued an age discrimination suit. With no lawyer involved, it took close to 6 months just for them to respond, and then it seemed their only intent was to find sufficient grounds to justify dismissing my claim. My filing was successful in causing the employer to spend significant time and money addressing the claim, and likely got the manager I identified in my complaint fired.
Our legal system is broken. Justice doesn't exist for anyone who is middle class or lower. Simply becoming involved with the legal system is an expensive, mind-boggling punishment in it's own right.
+1000
You did a great job documenting the daily nonsense. Depending what state your from, you could have a complaint right out of the gates. Try contacting your local LGBT groups. They may have legal aid "Pro Bono"(SP). Lawyers scare the poop out of companies almost as much as the IRS!
Chances are that the people you work with will, at most, comply with any violations of the harassment policy. Unless you feel a memo from HQ is gonna straighten this out, work torwards a settlement. Try and get the company to pay you off(Sounds horrible) and move on(Fact of life). If you can get a lawyer to do this, you could end up with money for the interm, solid refference, & compensation for the discrimination.
Most of all, keep documenting everything!
I got terminated. Tons of bogus reasons listed on it my termination paper, and multiple co workers and even a few of my patients are willing to testify to my quality of care I give them and their homes. Im downloading and filling out the eeoc paperwork as we speak.
Lots of luck, nail them .astards to the wall. It is now our time with the new EEOC ruling. No more treating TG differently then others.
It comes down to hate and fears from others who have there own backwards thinking.
Hugs
Izzy
I'm really sorry Teela.
Yeah, at this point im so worried, it took me forever to find this job and now that its gone, I dont know what im going to do. :(
What exactly was your job title? Where you a nurse? RN or LPN? If so, there is a lot of wiggle room for agency nurses.
Quote from: learningtolive on September 23, 2013, 02:30:33 PM
What exactly was your job title? Where you a nurse? RN or LPN? If so, there is a lot of wiggle room for agency nurses.
I was a in home health aid, Its just a title. besides having EMS/EMT training the onlything special about my position was getting medpass A and B certified by the state.
Teela,
I feel for you so much. You do need legal help and as someone else already suggested, if you haven't already done so, your nearest LGBT support group is probably a very good place to start.
Do you think you could get other people, patients and/or colleages, to testify regarding the harrassment you were subjected to?
Fondest best wishes.
Donna
Most of my family works in medical, so all I know is what they tell me. To be honest, I can't give you an accurate depiction about the job situation for home health aids; therefore I'm sorry I can't be more helpful. Nonetheless, I hope you find something soon and sorry you have to go through this.
Quote from: Donna E on September 23, 2013, 02:47:15 PM
Teela,
I feel for you so much. You do need legal help and as someone else already suggested, if you haven't already done so, your nearest LGBT support group is probably a very good place to start.
Do you think you could get other people, patients and/or colleages, to testify regarding the harrassment you were subjected to?
Fondest best wishes.
Donna
yeah a few patients and co workers have agreed to come forward for me.
Quote from: Teela Renee on September 23, 2013, 03:33:05 PM
yeah a few patients and co workers have agreed to come forward for me.
Then I suggest you follow up on that very quickly while feelings are still strong. I hate to say it, but time and worries about self-preservation can quickly dampen people's feelings of sympathy in cases such as yours.
Have you looked into getting legal aid and did you come up with something? You will need that to.
Wishing you all the best.
Donna
Did they say they would block you from getting Unemployment?
I live in some of the most conservative parts of indiana. Finding a lawyer has been a bitch, ive called 5 of them that refuse to touch it cause Indiana has no protection laws and dont feel Federal is gonna be enough. So now im waiting to hear from the Transgender law clinic, the NCLR, and a few other groups based out of indiana for Refferals. And as far as unemployment claim, Im going to be meeting with some of them for written statements, and stuff tonight and tomarow.
Untill then I also put up some self employment ads on craigs-list. http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/bts/4086374560.html If any of you wanna look it over and give me any pointers on how to sprous it up.
Quote from: Ms. OBrien CVT on September 23, 2013, 03:55:36 PM
Did they say they would block you from getting Unemployment?
nope, but they hinted at it. When I asked to see the M.A.R.S. sheets they claimed I missed up on, they said im no longer an employee and if I wanted to see them I could see them in court if I apply for unemployment. But im not worried. Imma steamroll them so bad.
Hey Teela,
About your Craigslist Ad, it can be easily misinterpreted. I would be careful about the sort of clientel that respond to home massage ads. Just a warning because I have run into plenty of creeps on Craigslist during my job hunt. Believe me, there are many weirdos and scam artists out there.
Quote from: learningtolive on September 23, 2013, 04:05:02 PM
Hey Teela,
About your Craigslist Ad, it can be easily misinterpreted. I would be careful about the sort of clientel that respond to home massage ads. Just a warning because I have run into plenty of creeps on Craigslist during my job hunt. Believe me, there are many weirdos and scam artists out there.
I know, my roomie has been doing it for years. She is gonna supervise me for awhile on it and keep my safe/ work sorta as my security on calls.
Not to mention I have a concealed Carry permit and my gun is the kinda that doesnt take prisoners.
Hi Teela, I am so sorry to hear you are going through all of this. I hope that you are able to nail your former employer to the wall.
I wish you nothing but the best with what you got planed for work, but please be careful when it comes to working with people who contact you through your Craig's list add. As LtL has said there are lots of creeps out there.
And if you lived closer to me I would hire you to do my laser hair removal. But I think the commute to Massachusetts is a bit far for you.
Hugs,
Bethany
Teela:
I've been away for a day, and oh my how things changed.
I've mentioned The Transgender Law Center in San Francisco before because they do national representaton for assitance with various legal issues. You may want to call them and see if they can help in any way. I don't know if they can, but it's all free and they understand the financial situations of the clients. The wife of one of my Nephews worked there for several years as an attorney, and she's the one who steered me there for name change assistance.
http://transgenderlawcenter.org/ telephone 415.865.0176
Quote from: kathyk on September 23, 2013, 06:04:53 PM
Teela:
I've been away for a day, and oh my how things changed.
I've mentioned The Transgender Law Center in San Francisco before because they do national representaton for assitance with various legal issues. You may want to call them and see if they can help in any way. I don't know if they can, but it's all free and they understand the financial situations of the clients. The wife of one of my Nephews worked there for several years as an attorney, and she's the one who steered me there for name change assistance.
http://transgenderlawcenter.org/ telephone 415.865.0176
Yep, I contacted them and they are going to get back to me with some representation referrals.
@Bethany aww. Thanks. if you lived closer id gladly do it for you ^^.
Quote from: learningtolive on September 22, 2013, 09:48:00 PM
On a side note, there is a special place in hell for people that can't respect other people.
Hell's too good for them.
And there seems to be so many... sigh
Saw this today
http://transgenderequality.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/four-things-you-should-know-to-understand-the-eeoc-decision-and-the-need-for-enda/
Hopefully this helps a bit with some insight into the process that goes on behind the scenes. It still sounds nasty, but that means nasty fir your former employer as well which might grease the settlement wheels.
There is a group of lawyers in MN that does some work on this type of situation. They may know of a similar group in IN. Try them
http://callforjustice.org/
The director is MTF.
I have another suggestion that may help, and that is going to your local newspaper reporter, and, or TV news. I know that you might find this invasive, however, depending on you "out" status, a powerful tool to shame an employer into doing the right thing. Transgender issues are being taken seriously by reporters lately, now that the gay and lesbian community don't have to worry about DOMA and Prop 8.
Good Luck.
Quote from: Teela Renee on September 23, 2013, 01:57:24 PM
I got terminated. Tons of bogus reasons listed on it my termination paper, and multiple co workers and even a few of my patients are willing to testify to my quality of care I give them and their homes. Im downloading and filling out the eeoc paperwork as we speak.
That's bull****. I'm glad you are taking this route. Good luck!
One of the first times in my life I'm speechless, so BIG HUG :)
I have a case with the EEOC since June of last year. It takes a while but harassment and bugus BS is not tollerated and it is investigated. Good luck hun, definitely file and nail those A-holes to the wall!
That's a bummer Teela. I hope you can get the justice you deserve in the end no matter how long it takes the system to move along and do their part.