Women Friendly Workplace Campaign Speakout
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Construction Site Mentality
- Subject: Construction Site Mentality
- From: Anonymous <no_email@fake.address>
- Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 16:15:43 -0500 (EST)
I am a software systems analyst and was assigned to develop
software for the Facilities Management group within a company.
I noticed almost immediately that these Facilities guys
didn't respond very well to a woman, particularly an
assertive young one, and seemed to have attitudes more
appropriate to a construction site.
Not long after I started working with them, one of them -
let's call him George -
started "hanging around" me, coming into my office and
sitting down uninvited, asking me out to lunch, etc. In
the spirit of teamwork, I accepted a lunch invitation,
inviting several other team members to join. I got to
the restaurant and no one else had showed up but George, who
made a comment that he had dressed up that day as it
was a special occasion. I told him in no uncertain terms
that this was a business lunch and not a date, but I
remained friendly. My mistake! He didn't get the hint and
kept following me around. I finally told him that his
behavior was bothering me, I considered it inappropriate in
a place of business, and I would like him to stop. He didn't.
I reported it to the VP of Human Resources and filed a
sexual harassment claim. It was resolved and case closed --
or so I thought. I was moved out of my office and into
another building on 1/2 hour's notice, and slowly but surely
more and more of my project manager responsibilities were
taken over by my supervisor -- a man. Finally, when I
had practically nothing to do, I went to HR again -- and
was transferred to another position with less authority
the next day. I was given my "performance review" -- what
a joke -- last week and those Facilities customers gave
some very negative feedback to my supervisor, claiming all kinds
of untruths about my work. My supervisor then told me they
had requested I be removed from the project. Can you
say RETALIATION?!!!!!!? I have filed formal paperwork with
HR and am meeting with the EEOC next week -- and I am
FURIOUS! What makes me so mad is that they are getting
away with it!
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