I requested an RA for a flexible start time in the AM due to worsening symptoms of my ADHD when the agency changed our flexible start time to a strict start time. I was awarded and consistently praised for my work before I requested the RA.
Within 11 days they did not grant the RA as requested. They did not engage in the interactive process, and I was put on a PIP with 2 disciplinary memos within 9 days. Then they berated me with constant verbal and written harassment, obstruction in completing my work, constant criticism, retaliation, etc. Textbook ADA and civil rights violations.
After months of looking, I found an attorney the day before getting a termination notice while on ADA-protected medical leave. I already filed with the State EEOC office as soon as the RA was not granted and harassment, and retaliation started. I was ahead of the game. My job went from trying to meet the pip, to evidence collection in the last two months of my employment. The hard part was faking it, so I could just copy documents emails, and make audio recordings, (legal in my state)
I have been out of work for 2 months now. EEOC is just now getting g around to assigning the investigator and sending my notarized charge to the employer.
My attorney notified the employer back on March 25 and their attorney responded acknowledging my representation.
This is the good part! Yesterday April 27 I got an email from my ex-supervisor threatening to throw away all my personal property from the office which includes accessibility tools, such as timers, ergonomic mouse and keyboards, whiteboards, calendars with alarms, and my Kindle Scribe etc.
She contacted me directly via email. Put the threat in writing, demanding I come to the office in person within 2 days by noon or they will destroy my things.
This is a huge win for me. It showed discrimination and further retaliation. They contacted me directly, bypassed my attorney and theirs. Also violating the litigation hold. I responded informing her of my attorney representing me again, copied my attorney and needless to say, he sent it back to their attorney and HR Director and he professionally told them that they just lost their defense and the email will be used as evidence of continued retaliation. I watched them panic and scrabble. They will now be packing up my equipment and paying for shipping. They know they are screwed.
I have been patient, burning through savings waiting on unemployment benefits to start for 6 weeks now. I do have a small federal pension helping me cover my mortgage. Patience has paid off. My ex-supervisor, showed everyone who she is and how she treated me. She thought she still had the authority and power to continue the bullying! Now she will be the one losing sleep and probably on a PIP or fired soon! I finally feel seen and heard!