Before being unlawfully fired, I had been working for SI International for 2 (two) years as a DRIVER. On 7/20/04 I hurt myself on the job, I asked to leave early so that I could go to the ER. After arriving to the ER I was diagnosed with "right Achilles Tendon rupture, " and was immediatly put in a cast, and given crutches with written instructions not to DRIVE or WALK on feet for 11days.
On 7/21/04 my wife drove me to work so that I could give Mr. Wallace (supervisor) my ER papers. His exact words were "Ther's NO light duty around here, if you can't perform your job 100% then you can be here." Now I thought that I was doing something by having my wife take me to work, and showing my ER papers, hoping that there was SOMETHING that I could do, even though I was in PAIN, and on pain killers. Even though I could not perform my job 100%, he did NOT have to express himself the way he did. I had an appt o see the Orthopaedi on 8/6/005, at that point my cast was taken off, and another was put on, aaadn I was scheduled to have Orthopedic surgery on 8/10/04.
After the surgery I was put in another cast, and I was sent home to recover, and continue taking my pain pills. I was home on workmans comp from 7/20/05 and returned to work on 4/11/05. When I called M. Wallace the Friday before 4/11/05 I was told by him that I WAS NOT to speak to him anymore to call HR, so I did so to be told that I had been FIRED, and DID not have a job to come back to.
I was BOILING, first of all I had NOT been notified if this, and two, why was I being fired. I told SI that I was going to contact my Lawyer, about this matter, and for them to speak with him. Two days later I was called by HR informing me that I still had a job... FUNNY that when you mention LAWYER, things start to go your way. Upon returning to work I faxed a letter to Mr. Wallce from my ortho doc stating that I was not fully recovered, and I would still have an occasional pain my right leg and suring those times, I would need to rest.
When I returned to work Mr. Wallace had already told several employees, that he was going to work me to death. I expressed to Mr. Wallce that my foot was bothering me, and I needed to sit down. I was told by him, "sit on you lunch break." How rude, at this point I was really reading in between the lines, and was feeling that they were trying to either make me quit, or they were going to try and fire me again. I had several follow-up appt with my orth doc, which meant that i HAD TO TAKE OFF TO GO TO THE DOC. Each time I told Mr. Wallace of my appt. I would receive nothing by ATTITUDE and rudeness. Several times I had to contact HR on Mr. Wallce becasue he ws following me to the bathroom, and speaking to me in a manner in which was NOT acceptible. And I felt that I was being HARRASED. Each time I contact HR, I received no response, so I e-mail Eve Campbell, and she in turn turned in over to the office in Maryland. I was told that MR. Wallace and I along with HR werew going to have a meeting, which NEVER happened. There were also several times that I had to call in due to the fact that my right ankle wa swollen, and I could not even put on my boot. Again I was written up for that whcih I REALLY didn't think was fare. Well I was fired a couple of weeks ago, and was told that it was because of poor attendance, which is a crock of bull. Attendance has NOTHING to do with it.
The fact of the matter is that SI and Mr. Wallace has been after me since the workmans comp case, and now they want to use attendance, as the reason for letting me go. I was harrassed upon returning to work, and NOTHING was done. I was even singled out when I had to get a duplicate drivers license. The sisn't believe me, when I told them that I misplaced my license, and had to go get another, so when I came to work the next day, they asked to see it. So when I showed it to them they wanted to know what the D stood for on the back of my license. It clearly stated that Class D stands for non-comerical vehicles. Well they pulled me OFF the trucks for three days. Now my questions was that if OTHER drivers also have a DC license with a class D, why was I the only person pulled off the trucks. DISCRIMINATION, thats why. The only thing different about my license was the pic. Not only did they basicly call me a liar, by asking to see my license, but I was told that when the new contract came, I WOULD not be there becasue I was a problem person. I was told that by Mr. Wallace. I was a problem because I would NOT allow him to talk to me ANYWAY that he wanteds to, I was a problem because I would not allow him to disrespect me. There are also MANY other employees who have called HR on Mr. Wallce with NOTHING be done. I feel like I was let go for NO REASON, and I'm currently trying to seek a LAWYER for counsel. I have tried on MANY times to seek help with HR regarding MR. Wallace and the problems that I have encountered, with many unanswered e-mails, phone calls, and faxes.
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