What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?AZ
I live in Arizona and attended a small, privately owned trade school, out of state, after quitting my job to pursue a new career. While I was attending this school, the instructor took it upon himself to investigate my background by calling my former coworkers. He then disclosed his findings to the entire class. He disclosed my family background, my background, and very personal genetic information. I was confronted by a classmate about this information while the other classmates picked on me. The owner/operator of the school caught wind of what was going on and made an announcement to the class that this is unacceptable and anyone found harassing me would be expelled.
Over the course of the first year of my career, the information the instructor disclosed has followed me around from employer to employer. Usually spread by my former classmates and then by coworkers. I have had to deal with harassing comments and treatment from coworkers on two out of three contract jobs that I have worked. It was so bad on the last contract job I worked that management heard about what was going on before I had a chance to file a complaint. Out of nowhere, management held ethics training classes for a small portion of employees and made several announcements that harassing comments about race, religion, sex, and “genetic information” is unlawful. This did not stop the harassing comments and treatment. I then went to my direct supervisor to file a complaint and this did not help either. I wanted to quit several times, but couldn’t because I needed the money to pay bills. I have never been so humiliated and hurt in my entire life. It has been over a month since the contract has ended and I am still waking up in the middle of the night experiencing anxiety attacks and horrible thoughts.
Because of the actions of the school instructor, I’m afraid my career was over before it even got started. I fear because of the small, tight-knit community of the industry I’m in, I will have a very difficult time finding employment again. And if I do, I’m afraid I will have to deal with the harassment again. I’m at a total loss as to what to do. I’m ready to quit and write-off all of the time, money spent, and effort I put in to starting a new career. Any advice would be appreciated.
I live in Arizona and attended a small, privately owned trade school, out of state, after quitting my job to pursue a new career. While I was attending this school, the instructor took it upon himself to investigate my background by calling my former coworkers. He then disclosed his findings to the entire class. He disclosed my family background, my background, and very personal genetic information. I was confronted by a classmate about this information while the other classmates picked on me. The owner/operator of the school caught wind of what was going on and made an announcement to the class that this is unacceptable and anyone found harassing me would be expelled.
Over the course of the first year of my career, the information the instructor disclosed has followed me around from employer to employer. Usually spread by my former classmates and then by coworkers. I have had to deal with harassing comments and treatment from coworkers on two out of three contract jobs that I have worked. It was so bad on the last contract job I worked that management heard about what was going on before I had a chance to file a complaint. Out of nowhere, management held ethics training classes for a small portion of employees and made several announcements that harassing comments about race, religion, sex, and “genetic information” is unlawful. This did not stop the harassing comments and treatment. I then went to my direct supervisor to file a complaint and this did not help either. I wanted to quit several times, but couldn’t because I needed the money to pay bills. I have never been so humiliated and hurt in my entire life. It has been over a month since the contract has ended and I am still waking up in the middle of the night experiencing anxiety attacks and horrible thoughts.
Because of the actions of the school instructor, I’m afraid my career was over before it even got started. I fear because of the small, tight-knit community of the industry I’m in, I will have a very difficult time finding employment again. And if I do, I’m afraid I will have to deal with the harassment again. I’m at a total loss as to what to do. I’m ready to quit and write-off all of the time, money spent, and effort I put in to starting a new career. Any advice would be appreciated.
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