Michael B.
Bronze Member
I was a Wastewater Plant Operator until Tuesday 1/26/16. I was questioned until I broke down and told management I've been diagnosed with PTSD. I was told PTSD is a behavior not allowed at work so your employment will be terminated.
This began in late 2008, sick policy changes made by the new incoming District Manager places anyone with 90% usage susceptible to termination. My Supervisor would never tell me my usage, so after a motorcycle accident left me with abrasions covering my legs and lower back I had to go to work.
I showed the Supervisor my wounds and asked for a clean area or light duty. He refused and told me to go to my work area. I was working with raw wastewater grit removal when a piece of equipment failed and soaked me with raw wastewater.
I tried several times to report this, and management even sent me to the WC doctor in mid 2009 because developing symptoms had become chronic. The doctor made me sit half naked on the table before he told to leave and that my problem is bad hygiene. By mid 2010 my primary doctor had run out of ideas for my physical symptoms that started in January 2009. So that my employer wouldn't find out, I applied for life insurance and the blood test confirmed I acquired Hepatitis C.
After I told this to management on 8/10/2010 I was threatened several times by a coworker not to report how I got HCV or else. I had to get treatment, so that is when the same employee told me; 'Because I didn't keep quiet, I was out and I was f*cked." This employee lives with a District Superintendent and is allowed to be aggressive towards anyone who is deemed trouble.
The harassment started to ramp up when I began the first invasive treatment. It failed and I almost became bankrupt because of it, hell I still have the debt. I believe the stress from the harassment played part in the failed treatment. I'd been experiencing vandalism of my property at work and home, my house was broken into usually on my way to or from work (incredible damage occurred and the police told me I shouldn't have pissed off whoever is mad at me.), I was not allowed to participate with coworkers in many group activities, I was isolated on a shift by myself and ignored by management, my pay was cut, and many other subtle harassment techniques were used. I documented this and HR ignored me.
I should mention that HCV is referred to as the loneliest disease. I lost my friends, girlfriend, and my shitty family because of HCV. The PTSD from all of this has kept me in this incredibly terrible loop for years. My life was destroyed.
In 2013 I had over $2000 in damage occur to my vehicle on the plant site and my employer said I can't prove it happened on the job. The vandalism became so bad in early 2015 I made Security watch my car with a camera. I had so many pictures of the vandalism they had to watch my car. So the vandalism turned to my work lockers, sabotage in my work areas, set up for injuries, one in 2014 tore my knee up falling in a chemical that had no business being where I was (intentional set up). It took almost a year to get surgery because of numerous delays. My tormentors had moved to within one mile of my house, I had to do something.
I started to pay for therapy with a psychologist (paid for by me so the boss didn't find out), got on medication, and was able to clear the HCV on my second treatment. Then I found out I have the genetic disorder Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. This causes my liver to not distribute enough of a specific protein to protect my liver, lungs, and skin. I then asked for a reasonable accommodation to allow me to go to the doctor. I was denied.
In late 2014 I began developing skin diseases again because of the A1AT Deficiency. I was placed on a limited work arrangement that was more like punishment. I filed a complaint with EEOC.
I requested an application for Long Term Disability insurance, which is still in progress as my employer left it on the table when I was fired. They are trying to prevent me from getting this by using dirty tricks.
By September 2015 I was running out of resources. The employee who made the threats continued to use passive-aggressive tactics. He was placed on the Safety Committee in early 2015 and I believe enlisted the help from a female committee member to trick me into committing inappropriate behavior. This women is 16 years younger than me and persisted to engage with me even after I told her I was not interested in her because of the age difference and my health issues. She still came at me until I asked her out. She refused, I thought it was over. Wrong, I'm in trouble. She continued her flirtatious behavior and tried to entice me in front of a security camera and nearby coworker, twice!
The male coworker who made the original threats at me convinced management I was a violent employee after I complained about his unprofessional demeanor with me. I was reprimanded, no appeal.
My isolation from the group meant I didn't get tied-in (briefed) at the beginning of my shift. One day I was tasked to place a process in service. I didn't know grating was removed for maintenance activities and I slipped and fell resulting in a contusion of my right knee. I was suspended, no appeal,
The second time the female coworker tried to entice me, the threatening male coworker came at me with passive-aggressive tactics again the next day. I wrote it all up and sent it to the EEOC investigator. Two weeks later I was called into the office where 3 management employees were waiting. For an hour and a half I was interrogated until I broke down and told this story. I admitted I was diagnosed with moderate to severe PTSD.
I was sent home without pay for the rest of the week. I was called the evening before I was to return to work and told to meet with HR the next day at 2:30 pm. on 1/26/16 I was fired because of inappropriate behavior as PTSD is not an allowed behavior. No severance unless I release my employer of all liability. I received no severance, and the EEOC investigator is going to send my right to sue. I have a phone appointment with a lawyer at 9 tomorrow morning.
This sucks.
P.S. I found out that applying for unemployment can kill an LTD insurance application.
This began in late 2008, sick policy changes made by the new incoming District Manager places anyone with 90% usage susceptible to termination. My Supervisor would never tell me my usage, so after a motorcycle accident left me with abrasions covering my legs and lower back I had to go to work.
I showed the Supervisor my wounds and asked for a clean area or light duty. He refused and told me to go to my work area. I was working with raw wastewater grit removal when a piece of equipment failed and soaked me with raw wastewater.
I tried several times to report this, and management even sent me to the WC doctor in mid 2009 because developing symptoms had become chronic. The doctor made me sit half naked on the table before he told to leave and that my problem is bad hygiene. By mid 2010 my primary doctor had run out of ideas for my physical symptoms that started in January 2009. So that my employer wouldn't find out, I applied for life insurance and the blood test confirmed I acquired Hepatitis C.
After I told this to management on 8/10/2010 I was threatened several times by a coworker not to report how I got HCV or else. I had to get treatment, so that is when the same employee told me; 'Because I didn't keep quiet, I was out and I was f*cked." This employee lives with a District Superintendent and is allowed to be aggressive towards anyone who is deemed trouble.
The harassment started to ramp up when I began the first invasive treatment. It failed and I almost became bankrupt because of it, hell I still have the debt. I believe the stress from the harassment played part in the failed treatment. I'd been experiencing vandalism of my property at work and home, my house was broken into usually on my way to or from work (incredible damage occurred and the police told me I shouldn't have pissed off whoever is mad at me.), I was not allowed to participate with coworkers in many group activities, I was isolated on a shift by myself and ignored by management, my pay was cut, and many other subtle harassment techniques were used. I documented this and HR ignored me.
I should mention that HCV is referred to as the loneliest disease. I lost my friends, girlfriend, and my shitty family because of HCV. The PTSD from all of this has kept me in this incredibly terrible loop for years. My life was destroyed.
In 2013 I had over $2000 in damage occur to my vehicle on the plant site and my employer said I can't prove it happened on the job. The vandalism became so bad in early 2015 I made Security watch my car with a camera. I had so many pictures of the vandalism they had to watch my car. So the vandalism turned to my work lockers, sabotage in my work areas, set up for injuries, one in 2014 tore my knee up falling in a chemical that had no business being where I was (intentional set up). It took almost a year to get surgery because of numerous delays. My tormentors had moved to within one mile of my house, I had to do something.
I started to pay for therapy with a psychologist (paid for by me so the boss didn't find out), got on medication, and was able to clear the HCV on my second treatment. Then I found out I have the genetic disorder Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. This causes my liver to not distribute enough of a specific protein to protect my liver, lungs, and skin. I then asked for a reasonable accommodation to allow me to go to the doctor. I was denied.
In late 2014 I began developing skin diseases again because of the A1AT Deficiency. I was placed on a limited work arrangement that was more like punishment. I filed a complaint with EEOC.
I requested an application for Long Term Disability insurance, which is still in progress as my employer left it on the table when I was fired. They are trying to prevent me from getting this by using dirty tricks.
By September 2015 I was running out of resources. The employee who made the threats continued to use passive-aggressive tactics. He was placed on the Safety Committee in early 2015 and I believe enlisted the help from a female committee member to trick me into committing inappropriate behavior. This women is 16 years younger than me and persisted to engage with me even after I told her I was not interested in her because of the age difference and my health issues. She still came at me until I asked her out. She refused, I thought it was over. Wrong, I'm in trouble. She continued her flirtatious behavior and tried to entice me in front of a security camera and nearby coworker, twice!
The male coworker who made the original threats at me convinced management I was a violent employee after I complained about his unprofessional demeanor with me. I was reprimanded, no appeal.
My isolation from the group meant I didn't get tied-in (briefed) at the beginning of my shift. One day I was tasked to place a process in service. I didn't know grating was removed for maintenance activities and I slipped and fell resulting in a contusion of my right knee. I was suspended, no appeal,
The second time the female coworker tried to entice me, the threatening male coworker came at me with passive-aggressive tactics again the next day. I wrote it all up and sent it to the EEOC investigator. Two weeks later I was called into the office where 3 management employees were waiting. For an hour and a half I was interrogated until I broke down and told this story. I admitted I was diagnosed with moderate to severe PTSD.
I was sent home without pay for the rest of the week. I was called the evening before I was to return to work and told to meet with HR the next day at 2:30 pm. on 1/26/16 I was fired because of inappropriate behavior as PTSD is not an allowed behavior. No severance unless I release my employer of all liability. I received no severance, and the EEOC investigator is going to send my right to sue. I have a phone appointment with a lawyer at 9 tomorrow morning.
This sucks.
P.S. I found out that applying for unemployment can kill an LTD insurance application.
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