GA’s “Out in the Workplace” Part IV

Here’s a post from evilbtch.com about being out in the workplace that is definitely worth a read. Make sure you visit the site and leave a comment as well.

Know that not everyone has it easy like those in San Francisco, LA or NYC. Even then you can suffer at the hands of some conservative like I did when I was just 16 years old. I was never fired from that job, but I endured painful hours of sarcasm from an openly Lesbian manager. She felt it her duty to present my apparently very obvious gay lifestyle to the world. She made comments in front of customers, to the VERY straight owner, and basically did all she could to out me. This included bringing in her gay friends who 90% were big giant queens that scared me. They would come over and try to touch the handsome mexican boy, who could care less. I was after all SIXTEEN years old, and was not out, and was scared to death of my parents finding out. She even threatened to call and tell them I was. Not once did I say I was, or had feelings towards guys. It was none of her business. That ruined my impression of Lesbian women for many years because I thought they were all hateful like her. Thanks to good friends like my girl Kim, I learned not everyone is full of hate and self loathing. To that boss, I give a hearty f*ck you. Now, I have my revenge via the net, while you work hard hours at the local Fosters Freeze. Enjoy that double dipped cone!

And here’s one from one of our readers:

I was working at Oakwood Hospital in the Oncology Dept. as a radiation therapist. One of the first problems I had with my manager was overtime pay. I was asked by her to come in on an off day and help another therapist treat patients. I agreed to do it for overtime. My manager then infomed me “not to punch/swipe in the usual way”.

So i did not. However I did list my overtime hours on the Variance Sheet. After 3 paychecks came and I still did not have my overtime pay, this is 6 week time, I approached my manager about the problem. The confrontation took place by the controls of the radiation machines and in front of the other therapists.
She became enraged and yelled “Don’t you understand” and walked away.

So I followed her to her desk and said to her “I do not understand your reaction. I have not received my overtime pay for that Saturday I worked with Jeanette”. She said to me ” We just do not understand each other”. I said ” No i do not understand you at all.” So I went to the Human Resoruces Dept and reported it.
They asked me why i did not “swipe in by my id card”? I told them i was told not to do so by my manager Anne Henry but i listed my hours on the variance sheet. They told me they needed to investigate and for me to return in two days, so I did.

They then told me first always swipe in no matter what anybody says, including your manager. Also they said yes you did work and we will guarantee your overtime in your next check. They did. That was one example of the mistreatment I received in the beginning, but it became much much worse.

How do i know this is gay related? I had no trouble for the first 3 months i worked there until one therapist asked me directly if i was gay. So I answered honestly that I was. What a mistake! I cannot begint to relate all the disrespect and unfairness here.

Have a story you want to share? Send it to james@vibemedia.net.

Also, read Out in the Workplace part I by clicking here, Part II by clicking here, and Part III by clicking here.