“Around my third year, I requested a workplace accommodation to attend therapy for my PTSD. After that, the bullying began. A supervisor started gossiping about me to another leader across the building. Eventually, I was moved to a new department after attempts were made to take away many of my job responsibilities.
I thought the transfer would bring relief, but the problems followed. In my new department, I raised safety concerns to a supervisor. Instead of addressing the hazards, he retaliated. Known for making sexist jokes, he had a history of targeting women. He was also close friends with the supervisor who had previously bullied me. He escalated the situation by fabricating a dangerous false allegation, claiming I threatened to burn the building down — something I absolutely did not say.
I lost my job, my insurance, and access to therapy — all because of a false accusation and retaliation for speaking up about safety issues.
Despite my long-standing record with the company, leadership refused to let me speak to HR and claimed they only believed supervisors. They suspended me without pay and fired me 12 days later, without a fair investigation. I lost my job, my insurance, and access to therapy — all because of a false accusation and retaliation for speaking up about safety issues.
The company lost a dedicated and knowledgeable employee. Their safety culture was already questionable, with frequent workplace accidents, and I always advocated for safer conditions. I filed complaints with the EEOC and state occupational safety agencies and am now pursuing legal action. The company attempted to discredit me, even submitting altered documents to the EEOC, but I stand by the truth: I was targeted for having a disability, for raising safety concerns, and for being a woman in a male-dominated environment. My reputation, livelihood, and well-being were all put at risk because I spoke up.”