flabergasted
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Missouri
I work for a company that is contracted by another very large international company. The company we are contracted by is located in the same state. I recently went on a trip to one of the client's offices out of state for product implementation. When I returned my supervisor's boss called me in to a meeting to share feedback she received. I was told that I had been dressed below standards and therefore presented myself to the client inappropriately. I found this odd. Our policy is to dress one step higher than the client, which I had done. Client wore jeans, I wore dress pants and a polo. I pressed this further, questioning how I could possibly be below the client's standards. It was reveled that at one point a polo shirt I was wearing had a small rip in a side seam, normally covered by my arms, and at one point before leaving the hotel in the morning, my stomach poked out (I am somewhat overweight). I cannot tuck in. None of this was brought to my attention by the client at all. I contested that I had no knoweledge of either, and had I been told there was a small half inch tear in my polo, I would have fixed it or changed. The company's official response was this does not matter, the client complained and that is all that matters and I have no right to defense or appeal. I have already been denied any further advancement with the company..
This surprised me that there was no possible defense on my part. I pushed for 2 more days with no resolution in sight. At the end of today, the lead for the project (who was involved with the meeting) pulled me aside to explain why I was not allowed any defense. Apparently, while I was not looking, the client's employee I reported to had used her cell phone to snap photos of me and these "offenses" and had shared them with my supervisor's boss. I had no knowledge of this at all. Apparently i "wasn't supposed to know" but had been told in confidence for my own reference.
I feel violated, intruded upon, disrespected, and harassed. I am now stuck in my current position with the company and cannot move forward, and therefore am now having to seek other employment. I am still in fear I may be terminated.
Do I have an recourse? Is there any way to pursue this issue while protecting the project lead who shared the photo information with me in confidence?
I work for a company that is contracted by another very large international company. The company we are contracted by is located in the same state. I recently went on a trip to one of the client's offices out of state for product implementation. When I returned my supervisor's boss called me in to a meeting to share feedback she received. I was told that I had been dressed below standards and therefore presented myself to the client inappropriately. I found this odd. Our policy is to dress one step higher than the client, which I had done. Client wore jeans, I wore dress pants and a polo. I pressed this further, questioning how I could possibly be below the client's standards. It was reveled that at one point a polo shirt I was wearing had a small rip in a side seam, normally covered by my arms, and at one point before leaving the hotel in the morning, my stomach poked out (I am somewhat overweight). I cannot tuck in. None of this was brought to my attention by the client at all. I contested that I had no knoweledge of either, and had I been told there was a small half inch tear in my polo, I would have fixed it or changed. The company's official response was this does not matter, the client complained and that is all that matters and I have no right to defense or appeal. I have already been denied any further advancement with the company..
This surprised me that there was no possible defense on my part. I pushed for 2 more days with no resolution in sight. At the end of today, the lead for the project (who was involved with the meeting) pulled me aside to explain why I was not allowed any defense. Apparently, while I was not looking, the client's employee I reported to had used her cell phone to snap photos of me and these "offenses" and had shared them with my supervisor's boss. I had no knowledge of this at all. Apparently i "wasn't supposed to know" but had been told in confidence for my own reference.
I feel violated, intruded upon, disrespected, and harassed. I am now stuck in my current position with the company and cannot move forward, and therefore am now having to seek other employment. I am still in fear I may be terminated.
Do I have an recourse? Is there any way to pursue this issue while protecting the project lead who shared the photo information with me in confidence?
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