Being Bullied And Then Wrongfully Terminted

by Julie
(Houston, TX USA)

For over 1 year I have had to deal with a supervisor whom I "inherited" when my original supervisor resigned after 17 years with the company.

He wasn't familiar with my duties or the department and when I tried to explain it he would never take notes and he would become defensive. When all this first started, I had worked with the company for only 4 months and I relied on 2 specific people to help answer my questions, but then I was told by the supervisor to no longer contact them and I was to ask him questions and what he says goes.

Then in meetings he would say things about the owner and his son and when I tried to let the owner be aware of the statements, they were denied and the supervisor came into my office and accused me of relaying the information and stated that I had misinterpreted it.

I was also getting contradicting instructions from the supervisor and another employee and tried to keep the company in compliance with agreements, but the supervisor would become defensive due to my vigilance in following procedures. During these times is when I would think my head would explode b/c I never knew what to do.

The supervisor would ask me if I owned a gun or stating something about my jumping out a window.

I asked for a performance review for my 1-year with the company, it was delayed due to "compensation issues" and when I told him that I wanted to speak with the owner about my compensation, I was then denied additional compensation w/ my promotion.

Then, I was reprimanded for recording internal business meetings and having a webcam b/c someone was leaving my office in disarray and stealing my pens. I was being coerced and intimidated in signing the reprimand when I had requested to speak with HR, who didn't care to listen to my side of the story and told me to just sign it and move forward. He then suggested I contact the owner, which I did, but he never returned my calls. I was then ostracized by my supervisor an employees and excluded from meetings. I knew at this point that I was going to be terminated or forced to resign.

2 weeks later, I was "laid off". They stated it was b/c of budget cuts, but the supervisor stated just 3 weeks prior that laying off people was the last thing they were going to do, but then here they were hiring new employees in the meantime. I was also the ONLY person laid off.

I then stated that I had filed w/ the EEOC which then he told me I "could have returned once my job was available again, but since I filed a lawsuit". He then followed and watched every move I made while I was gathering my things and escorted me out of the building.

I have documented the incidents and now I'm wondering if that is enough for the EEOC, courts, or whomever to believe me.

Now, here I am w/o a job, barely getting enough from unemployment benefits to pay my bills, I can't afford health insurance, and I have had sleeping issues, crying spells, headaches, stomach issues, nervousness, almost a nervous breakdown.

This workplace bullying has to stop. There has to be a law against this. I've heard that Texas is the worst in regards to defending employees. Well, that has to change. Nobody should have to deal with this. We spend too many hours at work to have to tolerate this from supervisors, employees, etc.