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The "New" Workplace Discrimination

© Lea Moore

As I promised, when I published "The American Way" I am ready to broach the subject of workplace discrimination in the 21st century. Although, again, if you will find yourself offended by this topic, please read no further.

The basis of this article is a topic close to my heart. As you already know, if you have read the above-mentioned, I am married to a black man and live in the heart of the Deep South.

What you don't know is since I lost my job, in January, 1999, I have been a self-employed jane of all trades in order to avoid putting myself in the same situation again, and having to watch others being exploited and passed over lateral transfers or promotions because of their gender or race. The things I saw in the corporate world of this particular organization sent my head reeling.

For a little background:

I started out with the company in the file room as a temp, and was granted the opportunity to post for an internal position because of my work performance. I tested for and was hired for the position.

My boss was ecstatic with my work. He praised me all over the building, from Human Resources to the company president. I was the best secretary he'd ever had.

Four months into my probationary period, a job came open for which I was highly qualified and that would pay more that $2000 a year more. So I posted for it. There was no harm in trying.

Then I got sick. I had to be off work for over a week, doctor's orders. While I was at home, recovering, I decided to get some pictures together to put on my desk as work.

The Monday I went back to work, I made sure I was there a few minutes early so I could put up my pictures and make my desk my own. My boss came back from a business trip the next afternoon. When I came back from lunch, he wrote me up for being off work, after he had been so nice about my getting well.

A short time later, I was told that I would have to have him sign a paper and referral in order to be considered for the new position. I gave him the paper. What I got back was apalling. I couldn't believe the terrible things he had to say about my work. I knew what had happened, and I knew why, but because he did it in such a sly way, there was no way for me to fight it.