Stories

Sexual Harrassment and whistleblowing

I worked for one of the largest mortgage lenders based out of Washington State in the Technology department. I had been in this feild for 13 years. I was continuilly sexual harrasesed by my managers and their managers, along with my male team members. In one case I was stalked by an employee who actually got my personal infomation and came to my home several times.

This company did not even protect my personal info from fellow employee's who just happened to have admin access to everyone. I worked for this company for many years. with great reviews, working sometime 7 days a week 24/7 on call responsible for major data centers as this continued.

I was told by a good friend who was a VP within the company not to go to HR because they would protect the company and get rid of me. After about 5 years of this I finally went to HR and low and behold the advice I was given was true. Before I got back to my desk my complaints were on each managers and VP's, voicemails emails etc..

When I came in with a doctors note that stated I had been with standing so much stress due to this abuse I was becoming phsically ill and could not return to work for a few weeks. I left to take a breather. When I returned I was told I would not have any of my regular duties and would be basically be the team secratary.

At this time I hired a lawyer and went back to the doctor who then wrote a note that it was in my best interest (health wise) to not return to this job, as it would eventually kill me due to high blood pressure and anxieties of dealing with these people. There were two other people on my team who went through the same thing however they were scared because they signed an arbitration agreement and thought they had no rights, as I did until I spoke with outside coucil.
All during the lawsuit the sexual harrssment was ignored and they played the game that I provoked it, and that I had been a bad employee anyways and was on notice. I had never had a meeting or any council from this company of such infomation. I had always recieved my annual bonus's and raises and good reviews.

During the lawsuit I was privy to all emails during this time that went around from manager to manager to do what neeed to be done to get me out of there because I was a liability to the company. However, they could not provide any reviews or pay statements from my past years working there. This from a large company insured by the Federal government...very strange don't you think. Of course I kept copies of everything, that, pay stubs company emails etc. I always saved copies and brought them home. (one thing that saved me (a little) in the end. When al was said and done I settled because the stress of being attacked again for my character was so invasive and devestating emoinally and mentally that I had to give up. Which was there plan.

Now the tax payers are paying for my to be on state aide while I await disablity due to the forenzic Pychologist who clearly stated this experience has caused me Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. In this small community it is now difficult to find work because with my speciality skills there is always someone who knows someone and companies will not hire me because I now pose a risk. My career has been ruined unless of course I start from the bottom in some low end company and loose 50-70% of my income.

So ladies, next time you think HR is on your side, think again. No wonder so many women put up with this, there is still in this 21st century no one to protect you. I advise getting legal coucil BEFORE going to HR.

Signed my career has been ruined and the nominal amount they settled was a joke for their behavior.