That’s how I knew for sure it was regarding my cell phone. As I continued to work for the school district, it was evident that I was under investigation. Actually, the interview process was actually set up as entrapment based on the questioning. The employees that I encountered at the old military base located in Houston enjoyed the mocking. It makes me wonder if this has occurred to anyone else while working at this old military base located off McCarty and Wallisville Rd. What else has these military veterans been able to get away with? Is this America’s way of dealing with veterans and non-veterans in these situations? Although, I do not have military background, I believe I was treated like a military veteran. I dealt with it daily, keeping to myself during the lunch hour. Who knows, maybe treatment is worse for a military veteran. The first time, that I tried to report workplace bullying, the HR representative was a no show for the meeting. She stated that she arrived to the location, but could not meet with me because she was pulled to meet with a department on site. I worked in the Administration building; the same building as the department she was meeting with. All she had to do was establish contact with me and provide next steps. As someone with investigative background, that’s what I would have done. I remember being tasked with a project that involved taking inventory of specific assets throughout FMO departments. When arriving to the Security Maintenance department, the individual overseeing the department escorted be throughout the area to identify assets to be inventoried. We arrived to a security monitoring area. As we walked into the area with at least three male employees, they were definitely not expecting to see me. One of the computer monitors was displaying my desk, my seating area which was a cubicle. One of the security employee looked as though he was going to pass out or fall out of his chair. I didn’t say a word. It was clear at that moment that I was being watched. Any work performed on the computer was monitored. I decided to just continue with the role, after all, I had not worked in three years. I needed the job, so I knew I would have to endure whatever came my way, and no, I never met with the HR representative. I also decided not to reach out to HR because it was clear why she did not meet with me. Thinking back, I remember being stressed and confused about the situation. I went to my manager to advise that I reached out to HR, but I didn’t advise on the exact details. At some point, I remember sharing a previous work experience and that I was not allowed to transition work. She became very theatrical, asking, Ole girl, did you steal something? Grabbing her cell phone, stating that she had to call her mother, but based on her body language, she was actually trying to record the conversation. That was another red flag, that this is not a usual work role for me and to just perform the job so that they could conduct the investigation.
At some point, there was a male hired as a Sr. Manager. There was a female employee with the same last name as the individual. I remember the Admin joking about them being related. The female employee with the shared last name denied being married or related in any way. I was a new employee and I could actually care less. I was just there to do the job I was hired to do, so I just dismissed the conversation altogether.
One day, at work, i was struggling with using SharePoint. The new manager came to my cubicle to tell me that the female employee (with his last name) was good with SharePoint and could help with what was needed. That was his way of telling me that he was monitoring my work (his office was adjacent to my cubicle with a shared window). The thing about workplace bullies is that they like to talk. They want you to know exactly who they are, while under investigation or not under investigation. It didn’t stop there. After having a conversation with my daughter about her art work, an older female admin made it a point to share with me that she had a conversation with her son whose girlfriend was an artist. My conversation actually took place outside of the building away from employees, so she wanted me to know that my calls were monitored. I will never forget the female employee with the same last name as the manager, walking into the office and asking the admin if I still had the cell phone. She laughed and kept walking. As I recall these events, I find them appalling and disturbing in every way. I would never want anyone to experience this type of behavior. This is what happens when corporate America partners with government entities. The money buys what both perceive a entitled behavior. They can orchestrate any narrative and hire the worst of the worst to plan and execute. The goal is to break you down mentally, physically, financially, and emotionally, in hopes that you will not have any family support. I had to deal with the military veterans and whoever else they had on property, creeping behind my vehicle in a line and others waiting outside of the gate of the property. The school bus drivers made a point to arrive at the exact time that I would be exiting the gate. It did not matter what time, so if I worked late, they would be there. I remember sitting at my desk, and my cell phone turned on without me turning it on. You see, I was bullied for my cell phone at an old military base. Instead of corporate America advising of the issue when I was laid off, they decided to take it a step further to make me out to be someone I’m not. With law enforcement on site at all times, you would think they would have addressed the issue while I was employed there or during the layoff. I believe that I was targeted after reporting discrimination to my employer, a third-party facilities management company. It makes sense that when trying to get an employment attorney, I was not receiving any response. I recall another female employee, when saying goodbye at the end of the day, saying in a slow voice, byeeee, Nooowana, as she looked under-eyed at me; how creepy. Because, I knew what she was doing, it was easy to just say bye and have great evening. I’m a women of faith and do not have time for the wickedness in the workplace. I had to stay prayed up at all times because my commute was dangerous. Since being laid off, I have not been interviewed by anyone. I have reported to the DOJ twice and Homeland Security at the direction of the NAACP. I eventually submitted an EEO complaint to school district that lead to my layoff after following up on the EEO complaint. What else are they capable of or would be willing to do to you for your cell phone? Never use your personal cell phone. If they can’t provide you with a work phone, DON’T take the job. Be safe in tech! – NE
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