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Jane Tanis
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51
Empathy Conquers Enmity.
08/22/19 at 7:22PM UTC (Edited)
in
Women In Tech

Harassment and Targeting An overview of my tenure.

For four years, I worked in a toxic environment. Sure, I understand how that sounds. We all have, and that's not okay! In my first role with the company, I was taken on for a seasonal role, assigned to work 42 hours a week. I was appreciated, dependable and an office favorite. I was promoted within three months to position in operations, assisting my at-the-time manager. Soon, I fell into doing all of his work, and seven other's too. I never complained, I powered through. I was made responsible for a department and paid $12/hr while balancing a husband achieving his Masters degree, being a single provider. Growing up having raised myself, I didn't realize or understand much of boundaries. Until April, I didn't realize that my gender and sex were the target of personal humiliation. My supervisor left me to an "HR-Free" workplace, as he said. I was harassed if my lipstick was the wrong, or right, color, how I shined my shoes, how "those don't do much for you, do they?", in reference to my trousers-- and so much more. I truly had no idea. He wasn't supposed to sit on the same chair as me. He wasn't supposed to stare at me, or watch me from the cameras, this I just found out, now that I've moved to a new career. In short, it was horrendous. I want to detail it all one day, but not yet. I kept my chin up. I did well. I kept on while I was waiting for my new position to start while my HR case was coming to a close. He knew it was me. He had other employees send me emails, targeting me for mistakes I had not made, while he dictated exactly how to write them, watched until they were sent. I discovered that my report was one of six. All I truly wanted was an apology. I wanted to help him understand what is not okay, and so that his daughter will grow strong. In my tenure, my operations role was eliminated, and was given to a man. I had to train him to do the work I had been doing for three years. Then, it happened again. Another male, toxic, employee took my role once more. I was denied a promotion after promotion due to mental illness, I can quote it verbatim. I don't want to. I was pregnant, but did not yet know when that had occurred. When I lost her, I was denied a leave of absence. I just recently started this new position within the company. I jumped from one of the lowest positions to a corporate team which reports to the CEO. I'm so happy to be away from that environment. I'm drawn to writing a short story of it. Maybe somewhere where it could be more neat. Near and dear to my heart because I know that I am not alone in such extensive circumstance, and I hope to open a further conversation on the matter. To clarify, I have PTSD, I have panic attacks which I have maintained with therapy and medication for ten years.

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westiegloria
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80
08/30/19 at 6:44PM UTC
Jane, a "concentration camp" refers to a place where large numbers of people, especially political prisoners or members of persecuted minorities, are deliberately imprisoned in a relatively small area with inadequate facilities, sometimes to provide forced labor. This term was used to refer to the camps established by the Nazis during WWII.
Jane Tanis
star-svg
51
Empathy Conquers Enmity.
10/07/19 at 3:15AM UTC (Edited)
Gloria, I'm Jewish. I know what a CC is. I didn't understand the use of that phrase here.
Kim Beasley
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796
Administrative Professional
08/27/19 at 3:20PM UTC
Please, please, please leave this job TODAY!! This is such an unhealthy environment (understatement)!!! I'm sorry you have to deal with PTSD, but people and companies are more aware of it and understand it better now than ever before. You CAN and defintely should move on, You deserve so much better than this!
Lucinda Jackson
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80
Author, Business Executive, Scientist.
08/24/19 at 7:21PM UTC
I am so sorry you had to go through this. You might be interested in my new book Just a Girl: Growing Up Female and Ambitious that tells my survival and success story in America's sexist, male-dominated work culture. It is for women like us who need to heal and find our freedom. See details at: www.lucindajackson.com
BeckyAnnNOL
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13
08/24/19 at 4:57PM UTC
We need laws to protect decent prosocial people from antisocial predators such as you describe in your story. I am so sorry you experienced such profound mistreatment and abuse.
Anonymous
08/24/19 at 3:27AM UTC
This is horrible I can't even fathom what she went through. Sounds like high school all over again. Yes we have all had those horrible bosses and toxic environments that we had to live through. So glad you are out of that environment now... the worst part of all of this is the stress you endured that caused you to lose your baby!! If nothing else sue for that alone. I'm so sorry
westiegloria
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80
08/24/19 at 1:33AM UTC
You are a brave and miraculous survivor of a workplace environment that can best be described as a "concentration camp". The details you describe at your workplace was one of blatant misogyny with total male domination in its worst form. They are cowards who humiliate women who they hate and at times fear them as well in their desperate need for power at whatever the cost. I would advise you to consult a top notch attorney if you have not already done so that is an expert in this area of workplace discrimination and sexual harassment. Details of all incidents and those involved would be important in a legal suit of this magnitude. Try to gather all information you have documented to help you. The abuse and stress level they have inflicted upon you over the years has taken its toll on your mental health. If you are still with this company, it would be in your best interest to obtain another position elsewhere in a more positive environment with less stress.
Jane Tanis
star-svg
51
Empathy Conquers Enmity.
08/30/19 at 5:14PM UTC
Can I request what you mean by "concentration camp"? I'm simply unfamiliar with the term.

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