I have a bad taste in my mouth right now. I am a person with a history of chronic pain, anxiety, and PTSD that has been more or less under control via therapy and medication. I work hard, I work well with others, but I take my body and mind seriously, and assert that I am treated with dignity and respect. If anyone has experienced this combination, they know that stressful life experiences can exacerbate pain and other adverse mental health symptoms. Recently, my job has been a hell hole to work in as I’ve witnessed major layoffs, employee gaslighting, and was faced with the owner being accused of SA (mirroring my own unfortunate personal experiences). I also am dealing with a slumlord that won’t protect our building from rodent infestation. Former employer could give half a sh*t.
Management repeatedly offers “any emotional or material support needed” blah blah, and when I reached peak stress resulting in a bad pain flare, I asked for a temporary reduction in hours to handle my business at home, and to do some work tasks remotely. I also had the housing matters to attend to, and was willing to take unpaid leave. I made a whole proposal and a list of tasks that were able to be done effectively under such model. I had providers ready to furnish letters in support. They said no, that my presence was needed and all my work had to be in person. The best they could offer was a 2 hour unpaid lunch break.
I worked in admin and my job was to hold what is now an empty fort down. Most days after the layoffs I would sit at my desk and virtually beg my manager for something to do. I would distribute 5 pieces of mail max.
To add insult to injury, after I expressed my frustration to HR, my direct manager and upper management started avoiding giving tasks, avoiding eye contact or acknowledging me. Once they offered that 2 hour lunch break, I realized how ridiculous it was to have to justify asking for help that they offered.
I told them that I wanted to resign mid September after my manager was back from vacation (tried to not leave her hanging). I also expected to get the same severance package that was guaranteed during the layoffs (it was supposed to be honored for resignations too). They said that “because of their financial situation” that the package would be cut in more than than half, and that I would have to leave Aug 31 instead. I saw this as active retaliation on all fronts and a violation of ADA since it was obviously about this accommodation and probably assuming I’m being lazy and whiny. I threatened to make a formal complaint and/or litigation due to the mistreatment and stress I was put under. This past Friday, they shut me out of all systems with no warning.
It’s Tuesday. No word back on last check or whatever “severance” I’d get. Is this legal? I personally feel like this was shady as f*ck, ableist, and just downright disrespectful. WWYD?