Don't go without a fight, especially without severance. Talk to a labor attorney.
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Thanks for telling your story. I hope the EEOC finds cause and you get reimbursed for the lost wages and benefits. In the meantime, I hope your retirement has brought you a lot more happiness than recent years at Follett.
So, here is my story again, worked for the University I loved for ten years, never written up for anything, awards, letters of commendation, etc. Follett took over, worked as a University employee working under Follett for another ten years, no complaints other than sales of course. When I contemplated early retirement from the University, I was assured that I could continue my job by BS as a Follett employee. Surprise surprise, the day I was to sign retirement papers I was told my job would not be available! After threatening age discrimination suddenly a job appeared, I accepted the position and received a Follett Values Award that year for Customer Service. Next year, new manager, would not engage me at all, I knew something was up, called into office given FINAL WARNING! No warning, no meetings, zip.....stunned, could not believe this was happening, harassed by manager even on vacation, knew I could not continue until they broke me down, turned in my resignation and all the little wimp could say was "okay". I called HR, and they had already okayed my unemployment pay....what????? I filed with EEOC and it is pending, now, you tell me this wasn't a set up? I was the oldest manager, had more vacation time than even my Director and higher pay than most.....I worked my ass off for this company and that's how you get paid back....I say DO NOT BACK DOWN!!!
It's worth fighting to me. I loved my company. I told everyone who asked that I worked for a great company - that I loved my job. I was proud to work for a company that for a century and a half had helped my neighbors pay for their houses, put their kids through school, battle illness, and all the while treated them with respect. A family company where you were treated like family.
and I've been here less than 20 years...I can't imagine how the true old timers feel about what's going on.
That all changed about 2 years ago right??
Yes - it's worth the fight, especially as I've been denied severance and will undoubtedly face a fight for UE.
That is what they hope most will do. Go quietly because it's not worth the fight.
It all depends how marketable your skills are. The fight will bring you some money but is it really worth all the effort? In some cases you might want to just move on and forget the whole episode. On the other hand, if it's personal, you might want to proceed with the fight anyway as you'd like to obtain some personal satisfaction. For me, it was just not worth the time and effort. I like people who worked with me but me fighting would change very little for them, so, I just found another job and moved on.
"They are trumping up charges to control people". They started that policy then an avalanche of writes up right from the get go. It's been going on for over two years.
Good for both of you. A word from someone who's gone down that path already. Document everything. Strip the emotion away from the stories, stick to the discrimination and proving it. If they're simply being mean (even abusive to the point of medical crisis), lawyers will tell you it's not against the law to behave like a jerk. Know what law they've violated and document it well. That will win
I agree. I have already made up my mind to go down with a fight and not let them strip my self esteem to build the esteem of others. They are trumping up charges to control people.
Swearing is a very weak reason to terminate employment, especially as a first warning. Fight for your severance and unemployment if you are wrongfully terminated.