I recently turned in my notice for a job I’ve been at for 1.5 years. I’m non-binary, neurodivergent, queer, 28. I’m also an artist and this was my first full time position, working client services at an animal hospital, specialty and emergency. When I first started, it was relatively easy to learn, and flexible. Over time, the staff and specifically the management team began to show their problems.
I’ve been consistently misgendered at my job. I know that I look very feminine, and I understand that breaking down the binary is hard, but I was ignored every time I corrected people on my pronouns. Coworkers made remarks behind my back that they “couldn’t see me that way” because I was “too pretty” and “her boobs are too big”. So, blatant sexual harassment and transphobia. I am not the only afab individual to be subjected to similar treatment. Another coworker said “trans men are just women” to my face, I asked him not to use harmful rhetoric at work. He doubled down and did not apologize. I excused myself and did not escalate the issue at the moment.
My managers know about all of this. I told them, they said we are not to discuss these things at work. They did nothing. I cried in front of them and told them I was in danger of self harm due to the stress and pain of consistent invalidation, transphobia, and sexual harassment.
I also recently learned that when informed of a recent hire who told a male colleague that he could “tell a girl’s body count by looking at her” and coming onto a female colleague multiple times, our management team’s response was to change the female colleague’s shifts.
Morally, I feel like I need to do something. But what? I’m in California if that helps. This place has fucked my mental and physical health so much. I don’t want to run away and just let them hurt someone else. The veterinary field is so fucked with self harm already, I am so scared that this inadequate management team will get someone hurt.