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Beyond Pay?
An anonymous reader asks: "I was wondering if Slashdot readers have encountered harassment in the workplace, and how they have dealt with it. In particular, when working for
technology-based companies. Examples of this include the company forcing employees to put in extra (unpaid) hours, with the implicit/explicit threat of loosing the job if they don't, to actual personal harassment in the work place by management staff. My experience is that even in cases where the employee is completely right, it is impossible for her to win the case, given current employment law."
At my old job, my boss had something against me. I have about 10 years of experience in the field, but I look young. I'm around 30, but look more like early 20's. At first I thought my boss was kidding around when he'd make comments about me not knowing something or "my many years of experience", but after awhile I realized the guy actually thinks because I look young, I must not know anything.
Projects that I was on before he started were slowly being given to other people, and he joking around finally got to me. I asked him to stop, and it just got worse. And he got spiteful about it.
Eventually it escalated to the point where I told him to fuck off and I walked out. Yeah, probably a bit childish, but I don't wanna be in a workplace where I have to go to HR and deal with jackasses who can't look past a person's physical appearance.
I guy that was younger than me, with less experience and definintely less knowledge, got promoted to a position I applied for, but he looked much older than I did. That kind of shit is plain wrong, but almost impossible to prove. And it happens everywhere.
Change "her" to "him" and you'd be right. In the past year alone I've seen two men be fired, on the spot, without a chance for any rebuttal because a woman claimed sexual harassment. Of the four times I've seen a man claim he was sexually harassed by a female empoloyee, NOT ONCE was the woman fired, or even punished. In fact, in one instance, the man was fired!
As far as being bullied into working unpaid hours, don't. It's that simple. You don't want to work for a company that bullies it's employees. The employment market is bad, but not bad enough to stay in a situation like that.
He is of Middle Eastern ansectory and has an Arabic last name. They asked him where he is from. As soon as he told them he is from the ME, their next question was "So learning to fly planes?" There were 2 other interviewers in the room, and all they were doing was laughing.
My friend was a bit puzzled, but kept on answering the questions with a smile. He didn't really know these questions were inappropriate. Well later that day he did get a job offer from them, so all seems to be good.
Later on he found out that he was one of the 5 candidates who applied for the job, and the others were not even close to being qualified for the job.
He isn't pissed or anything, but me and him always wondered if he had would have considered this harassment and taken it to court, how exactly does one go about proving that such things were said?
I work in Pennsylvania. This is a "work at will" State meaning your employer can terminate you anytime without notice or reason. They are also not required to pay unused vacation. Basically, any action which may be interpreted as "non-conforming" will get you invited to conference room 1-B. This is the one next to the front door. You are not allowed to clean-out your office or take personal belongings including your coat with you as you leave. Security will go through your desk, decide what is yours and place a box outside the building at 6:00 PM for pick-up (hopefull by you). Five people were terminated earlier this week a couple of hours after their group director held a meeting telling them the rumors of more terminations were false. Employers have us right where they want us.
Posting anonymously for a reason. My boss made some off remarks about a contract employee's situation (diabetic and couldn't work more then 8 hours a day because of it) and why he would not hire him for a full time position. This was in a meeting with 4 of the guy's coworkers. One of them, also a diabetic, took offense and called the HR ethics hotline. They were all but jumping into the phone to find out who it was. He (my boss) was going to be fired on the spot, and probably get fined. But the caller didn't give a name. He just thought it was too harsh, no matter how pissed off he was.
Although it'll come back to bite him (the boss) in the ass eventually.
Youth has its advantages. The energy, eagerness, and willingness to learn are a few of youth's best traits. It's a threat to all those that don't posess youth or at the least nurture their inner youth. Those without youth (youthless?) are proned to resist change. They are much less open to new ideas. They are less willing to learn new things. All of these things that the youthless lack build what is perceived as a threat. In many cases the youthful out-think and out-work the youthless. The youthful don't try to create conflict but they are frustrated by the youthless that put a stop to all change. A few months ago I contemplated writing a book geared towards youth in the IT sector, based on my own experiences. Age was a major stumbling block at that employer. My youth was hard to accept for a few people, one in particular. That person had their better moments for sure. Unfortunately that person only seemed to take my advice when they needed something from me. It was a difficult time I most assuredly admit. It was a learning experience that I'm glad I received. It is also an situation that I will never fall prey to again.
My advice to the article submitter is simple. Do not under any circumstances take any age-related crap off of anybody. You're an adult in a professional position doing a professional's job. They should respect you and you should respect they. Mutual respect between management and staff is something most institutions lack in this day and age. I feel this lack of respect is the reason employee loyalty and morale is at an all-time low. I made the mistake of avoiding conflict in the early months of that job. I didn't stand up for myself when an age-discriminatory comment was made about me, my knowledge, and my abilities. I put myself in the position of taking grief from one person in particular for over a year until I finally stood up for myself. Bullies in the workplace are just like bullies in junior high. They harrass those that they feel won't fight back. They do this to elevate their own perceived political status. Office bullies, like bullies from Junior High, also back down when their victim bites back. They will inevitably be a long-term enemy but you won't have to accept their daily dose of grief anymore.
Remain civil at all times. You will inevitably be presented with one or more occasions where you are right and they are wrong. Meetings are a great place for this conflict to arise. You'll find that your age will be used as an excuse for why you're viewpoint is wrong. Keep a civil, level-headed tongue. Don't ever be combative. If you remain civil and never let yourself become flustered, you will drive them to their wits end. Play your cards right and they will lose control. You will however be the calm, cool, and collected individual that operates well under pressure. Acting combative, swearing, and otherwise losing your temper makes you look childish. Let other fill that role. Don't sink to their level. If you can't ignore the conflict and you feel that the upper management will side with you if you're right, document your concerns or objections in writing and submit it to management. There are numerous books that relate very well to this topic. Search around for books on conflict management, conflict resolution, negotiations, etc. You'll find plenty of good reading.
Lo