“I had just started a position as an endoscopy equipment technician and was not allowed training. Instead, I shadowed another technician, who had no experience with training and was extremely volatile with her behavior. She complained I took too long to perform the process. And if I asked a question, I was met with a hostile tone. She asked, “What will it take for you to get it?” on the second week of working with her.
By the third week of working with her, I sent an email to the supervisor regarding overhearing her say she would give up a percentage of her salary if I did not come to work on Friday. I was in the next room feeling broken, in tears for hours and remorseful for taking on the position. After reading my email, the supervisor brought me and the other employee into a room. My employer knew I had a learning disability as I disclosed it during the interview process and when filling out the application for employment. Before taking the position, I explained I was thinking of going to school for training for this type of work. I was told I would receive on-the-job training from the hospital.
Instead, the supervisor said “you move too slowly” after coming to me with a clock to time my movements. One reason I moved slowly was because I was recovering from a painful second degree burn on my leg. I requested an accommodation per my doctors for me to take two 15-minute breaks during my 12-hour shift to keep pressure off my leg.
The other staff member also harassed me daily, asking “Don’t you remember?” every time I asked a question about the work. The supervisor eventually harassed me in the same way, shaming me in front of other staff members. I was also used as a scapegoat if something went wrong. I was under verbal assault daily.
One day, I left a room occupied by another colleague to take a call from my doctor regarding my accommodation documentation. After speaking with the doctor, my supervisor pointed in my face in front of others and accused me of leaving a room unattended to take a call. I explained to her there was someone there and why I needed to take the call.
There was no one I could count on for support. I was constantly met with physically and verbally threatening behavior, including lies.
I reached out to the president and CEO to convey my concerns after reaching out to Human Resources, who did nothing except say they would talk with my supervisor.
I pleaded for help, but no help ever came — simply more lies. I would encounter unrelenting disparaging comments like “I’m a snitch.” I did not understand what she was referring to. I was spoken to harshly and ignored regularly. The gaslighting was off the charts. I had to expend more energy keeping myself grounded emotionally and psychologically because they were working hard to get me to react through their consistent abusive comments and behaviors.
No one at the hospital stopped this behavior. Instead, they casted me as a problem that needed to be eliminated by any means necessary.
The supervisor terminated my employment effective immediately after speaking with Human Resources, even though the director told me I could quit but they needed my doctor’s paperwork from my doctor about the accommodations.
I live with the trauma every day. My credit score went from 750 to less than 400. My blood pressure is high, and I am barely able to sleep three years later.
I live with the trauma every day. My credit score went from 750 to less than 400. My blood pressure is high, and I am barely able to sleep three years later.
I am in the process of being evicted from my apartment due to non-payment of rent because I have used all my savings and retirement to live. Now I am left with nothing at all. The stress of the trauma is slowly killing me. I am afraid to be around people because I do not want repeat what I went through at work. I do not trust people, so I try hard to stay away from people. I do not feel safe anywhere. I have asked my doctor for a DNR because I am at risk for a stroke or heart attack and I do not want to come back to these memories ever again.
Ultimately, the state agency tried to intervene on my behalf with Human Resources and the hospital president. The state offered to provide training to bring someone into the facility to make sure I could learn all aspects of the work.
The hospital NEVER responded. Instead, they made a half-hearted attempt to allow me to apply for other jobs, resulting in one interview. The hospital denied me my accommodation. Then put me out on unpaid leave then terminated my employment.
ADA rights are a joke to the hospital. The supervisor knew all she had to say is that she performed and agreed to the accommodation. She got away with what I am going through now: complete and utter destruction for no reason at all.
The hospital did nothing to protect me as a disabled employee and as a human being.”