Be loud!! Stand up!
Crystal, Pennsylvania
Let me start with I am 1 of 5 female employees at a painting company. The company is owned by two men. I will call them Bevis and Butthead. Bevis is the president of the company and also the father of my boyfriend (of the last 9+years). Butthead is the HR man, in charge of running the jobs.
About two years ago, Butthead thought it would be funny to show me his “manhood” at work. I reported him to Bevis and Bevis asked all my coworkers about the harassment (THAT WAS NOT FUN). Then Butthead cut my overtime for a few months.
Nine months later my boyfriend and I split up for a few weeks, and my boyfriend’s father Bevis decided to put me under the direct supervision of Butthead on one of the road crews as a way of forcing me to quit.
Butthead started telling me my boyfriend and his father were trying to fire me or force me to quit, he told me that he was the only one who could save my job. “Keep your head down and you mouth shut” was what he said as he flashed me his manhood in the parking lot of the “WOMANS SHELTER” we were painting at the time. Then he began sending me sexual emails and flashed me again.
I told my boyfriend what was going on and he didn’t believe me so I showed him the emails. Then my boyfriend wanted to tell his father Bevis. I stopped him because I had just purchased a home about the time the harassment started and I was afraid to loose my job, my home, my children.
The harassment turned into threats, then demands.
I reported Butthead to Bevis and gave Bevis all the emails. Bevis told me it wasn’t enough and sent me back out to work for Butthead. I reported Butthead almost daily until I was allowed to work back in the shop where there were more people around, but the flashing, emails, and threats did NOT stop.
I continued to give my other boss and my supervisor the emails and report Butthead. Each time I was told that I didn’t have enough proof, so I had the email IP address traced back to Buttheads personal password protected work computer. Still NOTHING WAS DONE. Bevis told me he would try to be around the shop more and try to catch Butthead in the act.
I ordered video pens on the net and started wearing them on my shirt at work I caught Butthead on video at work shaking his johnson at me and “stroking him manhood.”
I reported him again but I didn’t yet tell Bevis about the video. I begged Bevis to put a stop to the sexual harassment I had been forced to endure for almost 6 months. I gave him a copy of 4 more sexual emails from Butthead, and again was told “It isn’t enough proof. He could say those emails aren’t from him. I need hard evidence.”
Well I took my “HARD EVIDENCE” aka the videos of Butthead to a local attorney. I didn’t file anything yet. I just talked to him about my rights. I didn’t want to destroy Buttheads life, marriage, company family etc. That’s right, I was that stupid. I was actually worried about him and his life. I took the video’s of Butthead to Bevis the next day and told him that I had an attorney. I told Bevis that if he didn’t make it stop I was going to file a law suit.
To make a long story short, I had to file with the EEOC, and in that time my boyfriend was fired, I was treated like dirt at work, hours cut, denied work, swore at, threatened, put down, had other coworkers make sexual comments at me. Bevis called people I haven’t worked with in over five years trying to dig up dirt on me. He also started to listen in on all my phone calls at work. I am currently “LAID OFF” and that’s the short version!!!
I filed a law suit 4 months ago. I don’t even have hope of a court date yet.
I can tell you first hand if you report harassment, YOUR FRIENDS AT WORK WILL TURN ON YOU. YOU WILL BE LEFT OUT OF THE LOOP. YOU WILL BE DEMOTED, LAID OFF, FIRED, OR DENIED A RAISE. SOME OF YOUR REAL FRIENDS WILL BE DEMOTED FIRED OR LAID OFF. EVERYTHING YOU EVER DID, SAID OR WORE WILL BE TALKED ABOUT. YOU WILL FEEL NAKED, ALONE, AND ABUSED!!! AND THEY CAN TREAT YOU LIKE THIS EVERY DAY UNTIL THE TRIAL IS OVER.
Just remember THERE ARE NO LAWS THAT PROTECT YOU!! Only laws to get you a little something for your pain after the fact!!! Yes you can report it to your lawyer and the EEOC, and if you win you might get some money.
I want to say I did the right thing by standing up for my rights, but because I have two daughters I won’t be able to say that until I get something done about the laws or LACK OF LAWS….. I WILL write letters, call elected officials, call news stations. Heck I’ll send out fliers post it on the net, call everyone in the phone book. I hope YOU do what you can too. BE LOUD!! STAND UP.
I can totally relate to what you have been through. It’s so demoralizing and to think that people whom you have worked with will turn against you. I wish you all the best and I’m sorry that you have to endure the pain. I have dealt with everything you mentioned in terms of retaliation. I have also gone to the EEOC and I have a lawyer. I really want my sanity back. I’m also angry at myself for feeling sorry for my boss and having some compassion for him. He is evil and I hope that he eventually understands that sexual Harassment hurts and that no one should have to deal with it. IM GLAD YOU GOT THE PEN!!! The more evidence the better.
You have done all the right things, you are brave. Some people are just messed-up. I am sorry you have had to deal with these painful events – hang in there! I too was harassed on the job by my boss and his best friend. The firm tried to force me to quit after I reported the situation, but I stood my ground. None of my co-workers came forward, although many witnessed the harassment and offered support before the company came after me. I was blackballed in New Mexico and recently moved back to California. I had to do what was best for my sanity and health.
I think you should go to the media. They will get the message out there to a large amount of people and create awareness. Bevis and Butthead are absolute retards.
You’re a strong, courageous woman and I applaud you for not taking the easy way out and quitting. I hope you fight this and win.
My heart breaks to read your story. I too am a victim of harassment and retaliation. My life has also been shattered and I know the difficulty of pulling your life together after others have callously denied you the rewards of your hard work. I will continue to pray for the strength of all who are found at the whim of vultures.