UnsureWhatToDo06
08-17-2006, 03:17 PM
Two days ago, I gave verbal notice that I was quiting my job, after a confrontation with my boss. My boss came to me in front of my coworkers and a subordinate, yelling loudly at me about something I believed to be insignificant. There was a problem during the day between my boss and his boss, and I was stuck in the middle. I tried to resolve the issue, but it took up considerable time. My boss unfortunately avoids his superior at all costs, and pushes the work load off onto me. Then my boss came at me very angry that another task had not been completed. He verbally degraded me and embarrased me in front of others. I reacted emotionally as well, and said I had had it with the owrk environment there. And walked out. My boss followed me to the elevator and said, well you are coming back aren't you? I said no, that I quit, and then threw my keys. I came back the next morning after having time to think about things, and apologized for my part of the confrontation. And explained why I had reacted emotionally, and that I had felt like I was being publicly humiliated. He did not own up to anything that he had done to cause the situation though, nor say that he could have handled the issue any differently. I asked for my job back. He stated that I had thrown my keys at him and quit, and that I had voluntaily terminated my employment. He said he would have to think about it, and discuss it with his boss as well. He said he would get back to me yesterday. He has still not informed me as to his decision.
Previously, I have always been told I was an exemplarary employee. It is a small company, and previously was in bankruptcy. I was the only one out of 12 employees from my department that was kept during layoffs. I have been given a written performance appraisal, all has been verbal. During recent protests here in Southern California about immigration laws, my boss sent out an email to several employees that he would not be in. He stated in this that he would be in the latino neighborhood where I live, selling churros and tshirts. I am latino, and found this to be very degrading. Another coworker forwarded the email to me, as I was of course not on the distribution list. I have a copy of this email. I thought it was so offensive that I showed my friends and family. He has also made comments to me that it is a good thing that I am good with numbers because he thought my english was not the best. I was born and educated in California. He has made reference to another latino employee recently hired, suprised that he spoke english as well as he did. He makes comments that are degrading, and does this in front of others as well. Fair and equal treatment do not exist at this company. Some are obviously given preferential treatment, and those are the people who party with the bosses. One of the main directors of the company also had a pornographic picture of a woman as his screen saver, and made this public knowledge. There is no one to complain to about these things though, it is the directors themselves that demonstrate these behaviors. I have just tried to stay out of the politics, and concentrate on my job.
I would not say that I like working there, but I need my job for financial reasons and for the health benefits. My partner has an illness and is reliant on my insurance benefits for bi-monthly infusions at the hospital. My insurance currently pays for this treatment. He is on disability, and is on my insurance.
What, if any, legal resources do I have available to me? I know I was in the wrong for exploding emotionally and throwing my keys, I have already apologized for this. But I felt like I was being publicly attacked and was on the defensive.
Previously, I have always been told I was an exemplarary employee. It is a small company, and previously was in bankruptcy. I was the only one out of 12 employees from my department that was kept during layoffs. I have been given a written performance appraisal, all has been verbal. During recent protests here in Southern California about immigration laws, my boss sent out an email to several employees that he would not be in. He stated in this that he would be in the latino neighborhood where I live, selling churros and tshirts. I am latino, and found this to be very degrading. Another coworker forwarded the email to me, as I was of course not on the distribution list. I have a copy of this email. I thought it was so offensive that I showed my friends and family. He has also made comments to me that it is a good thing that I am good with numbers because he thought my english was not the best. I was born and educated in California. He has made reference to another latino employee recently hired, suprised that he spoke english as well as he did. He makes comments that are degrading, and does this in front of others as well. Fair and equal treatment do not exist at this company. Some are obviously given preferential treatment, and those are the people who party with the bosses. One of the main directors of the company also had a pornographic picture of a woman as his screen saver, and made this public knowledge. There is no one to complain to about these things though, it is the directors themselves that demonstrate these behaviors. I have just tried to stay out of the politics, and concentrate on my job.
I would not say that I like working there, but I need my job for financial reasons and for the health benefits. My partner has an illness and is reliant on my insurance benefits for bi-monthly infusions at the hospital. My insurance currently pays for this treatment. He is on disability, and is on my insurance.
What, if any, legal resources do I have available to me? I know I was in the wrong for exploding emotionally and throwing my keys, I have already apologized for this. But I felt like I was being publicly attacked and was on the defensive.
