To give some context, I am a woman, engineer, and work in heavy civil construction and started a new job in May at a small new company as a project manager. I am based in AZ but the company is based in Colorado, however, they do work outside of the state. In fact, one of the projects they wanted me to take over was in Arizona, after that project was done, I was supposed to move up to Colorado. This was all in my contract. Additionally my contract said I would get 3 weeks vacation at the beginning of the calendar year, but this year would be prorated since I’m starting in May- fair enough. They also stated for the time being, I would only be required to travel to Colorado every few weeks, and would work remotely the other time (until I relocate).
After I started, they hired a COO (the owners hired me) and he was very very old school. He kept asking me when I was moving to Colorado and I would remind him after the Arizona job was complete, which due to delays wasn’t supposed to start until middle of September. I am a woman, and he always made me super uncomfortable. I could tell he didn’t listen when I would talk, and he was very condescending. He was new to this industry, and worked with the owner 20 years ago, so he was put in this position with no real background. I was also the only woman working under him, and we are rare in this field anyway.
Anyway, he put me on every Colorado job for the time being, and subsequently I was traveling to Colorado every single week. My jobs were going great, on time, I was making them money. Increased margin from 13% to 30% on my biggest job. I had a week left on that job and one week before the AZ job started. On Friday, he happened to hire a new Project Manager without telling anyone, which I thought was fishy. But I flew to Colorado, went to my job site on Monday, and went to the office on Tuesday. On Tuesday, he pulled me aside when I came in and said I was being let go for “lack of engagement.” eye roll
He gave me my PTO payout in an envelope, said to keep all my receipts so they could reimburse me for my trip home, and he would send all my personal items back to me in the mail. Well I get home, realize I was only paid for one week of PTO, and I reach out- they said that PTO is accrued so I only get one week, even though my contract literally has the words “PTO cannot be accrued”. I sent them my expense report, and also let them know I was not paid for Tuesday- the last day of employment technically- and they respond saying they are not obligated to pay for my return home to Az or the Tuesday I was let go. They also didn’t send all my items back, and won’t respond to me about them.
Is there anything I can do? Is it worth hiring someone/lawyer? Are they right? I never had any problems working in this industry for the last 10 years,but this company and this COO has me rethinking me whole career, I’m so tired of old fuddy duddies ruining everything.