Help! I was fired....should I report co-workers after the fact?

[Digit]

My Repuke co-workers were making fun of one of the managers when they found a listing of Montreal gay sites sitting on the printer. When they heard that he was going on vacation to Montreal...they had a field day. One guy was doing his hip thrusting motion to me and the other Repuke woman was laughing and making comments. I remarked that I did not appreciate it, and that one of my best friends was gay. This guy is like my little brother, and I had taken him under my wing years ago when others were abusing him at the job we both held together back in the area I was from.
Anyway, these two Repukes are still on the job, and I was the one let go for reasons unknown....or at least the ones presented were bogus as proved by my timecard.
Should I raise this ugly spectre or not?
I kept quiet and just said how I felt.
I was the one who was more accepting of all the cultures/races/gender preferences there. I could have raised some racial issues, also I had heard.
That is one reason I kept away from them.
The temp agency which hired me later said when they couldn't prove the timecard thing that I did not get along with others.
I just IGNORED it, so when did I become at fault?
Today is my one month anniversary of being fired from a job I loved, and did nothing wrong except to try to do my job and mind my own business.
Should I bring this up?
Do I file a complaint. I am white and hetero, they are white and hetero (and hateful).
I am over the getting even part (not my nature anyway), but I wonder if I am doing a dis-service to others at this point.

[Catherine Vincent]

1. "One guy was doing his hip thrusting motion to me ...."

Geeze. How old are these people?

[Digit]

5. My age....late 40's early 50's.

Juvenile, to be sure.
I was not used to this in a workplace having been a Realtor for most of my life.
I have heard of office politics, but this was off the charts.

[LittleClarkie]

16. At my place of work, that would be considered sexual harrassment

I wonder if a case could be made that she didn't get along with her co-workers because they were harrassing.

Or is it too late?

I know I'm contemplating calling the company of a courier who comes here on occasion who thinks it's appropriate to heckle me about politics.

At the very least, you'd think a person could ask for a professional atmosphere to be maintained.

[coloradodem2005]

2. Unbelievable.

I don't know what to say.

[paineinthearse]

3. I'd keep my lip zipped with respect to the employer

And make a visit to your state labor bureau. Get advice. You may even want to seek out a labor lawyer.

But in no case speak with the employer.

[0007]

4. It is easier to give advice than to accept. Follow your heart.

[Digit]

10. I wonder if I acted unethically in NOT reporting them.

After speaking with my sweet gay buddy last night, I wonder if I kind of betrayed gays by not speaking out.

[Spinzonner]

6. What do you want out of the process ?

First, do you live in an 'at will' state ?

You might get some compensation if you can prove violation of law but it's potentially long and expensive. It may be best to move on and not drag this behind you.

[Digit]

8. This is at "at will" state.

I still don't like them making up reasons why they fired me.
Oh, correction...I was "terminated at the request of my mgr".

[Digit]

7. I liked my employer...they were good to me.

I looked forward to getting there in the morning and hated to leave when work was done.

[msongs]

9. ummm you were fired, they were BAD to you.....creatonismists were they?

is that a new word, creationism-ists? in any event your description of them in your opening post pretty much explains it all.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[Digit]

11. My friend is so wonderful, he might buy a property from me to get me out.

from under a property so I don't lose another one I own.
He almost made me cry.

[Warpy]

12. Right wingers are petty, mean, and vindictive

toward anyone they think might disagree with their vicious bigotry, and it looks like they all went in and complained about you.

It's hard to know whether or not it would have any effect, but you could always write down your memory of what went down and who was present, whether or not they were joining in the vicious gossip and send it to the supervisor they were going after. At least it would warn him of what he's up against in that company, just in case he doesn't know. You might also mention a deleterious effect on company morale from bullying that will eventually hurt productivity.

These people were probably bullying little snots in junior high school and, since it worked for them, they've never grown out of it. There's very little you can do about shits like this except keep quiet if you're the low person on the totem pole at work.

Anyone who is being harassed at work needs to keep a paper trail, a notebook with each incident and who was present recorded. Don't leave the notebook anywhere but directly on your person. It can make the difference between successful bullies and companies who realize there is a lawsuit risk and who then deal with the bullies.

[Digit]

14. That is helpful....yes, I tried to keep a low profile. It got me nowhere.

This is now after the fact.
This mgr knows I am a dem, so I think he knows where I stand.
I think he knows these two people are Repukes....one by her flag in her cubby and the other by association. He is a real homophobe.

[Digit]

13. Question: Do you report discriminatory comments made in your workplace?

Do you ignore them?
Do you make a comment?
How often does it happen?
I am curious....it happens wayyyyy too often.

[alcuno]

17. I work in a school and I NEVER hear discriminatory comments.

From the adults, anyway. However, the way to handle issues between employees who are on the same level is to first talk to the person making them. Do it in a serious, non-judgmental way. If it continues, then you report them to a supervisor.

[woodsprite]

19. I work at a higher ed facility and yes, I report descrimination.

Sometimes it's not apparent that it does a whole lot of good, but I know for a fact that my big boss is watched *MUCH* closer now in regards to who gets promoted, who doesn't, who leaves and for what reason by the personnel and HR departments. Apparently I wasn't the only one reporting that he had *issues*. We're talking sexual harrassment here, and some weird thing he's got for dedicated couples with happy marriages. Hubby and I both work for him and he is just weird, but we love our jobs.

[Just Me]

15. Perhaps, there is an element of a form of sexual harassment.

Mostly, it appears that a couple of assholes got the best of you. Personally, I hate mean people,...and I know this has been a difficult situation for you.

I would definitely suggest you look for another job. However, as you do your job-seeking, detail what happened,...journal your experiences.

Much of your post is disjointed. Detailing the events will help you decide what is worth pursuing.

Did you feel harassed, intimidated by the repugnant employees? Do you believe those co-employees may have conspired to get you fired (to protect themselves from being exposed)? Do you believe it would be worthwhile both to your former employer and yourself to reveal what happened?

Only you can answer those questions.

All I can recommend is for you to journal your experiences, then decide whether or not it is worth your time and effort to confront those who you apparently feel victimized you.

[Digit]

18. I was about to let this die, but I am also disabled...

The same guy who made the thrusting movements to me also was making fun of how I walked on two separate occasions. The first time I told him it was mean and the second time I told him it was hurtful and a form of discrimination and to stop it.
Yes, you are right, he kept trying to sit next to me at meetings and things like that.
Kind of like a pre-pubescent boy throwing rocks at a girl?

The gist of this whole thread is that I would like to work for this employer in the future in a different area perhaps. At this point, they think it is all my fault, my inability to get along with people.
Either I am not getting the REAL reason they fired me (I was accused of leaving early which the timeclock reveals otherwise), or something else is going on.
Do I blow the whistle? It is an ethical question at this point.

[Just Me]

20. Naturally, you have to make your own ethical choices.

Document your experiences,...decide what's right for you. Consulting with your civil rights agency, AADA agency and/or an attorney may be helpful to you in deciding whether or not the time and energy required is worth the fight for ethical purposes.

You'll make the right decision for yourself.

[AirAmFan]

21. Just remember: Any potential future employer will be calling your last

workplace. Your first priority is getting another job. Don't take any rash action that might interfere with priority number one.

You need at least one high-level reference at your last place of employment to give you a good recommendation. It might be a good idea to call and ask him/her/them to serve as your reference. Don't be shy about suggesting to them what they might say about your strongest sellling points to future employers.

IMO AFTER you have a new job is the time to think about settling old scores at the old job. You need time and perspective to decide whether you have any case or grievance worth pursuing, and a time-intensive higher priority task that will keep you very busy in the meantime.