I am a father of 4 with a disabled wife suffering from head injuries from an auto accident. I was employeed with Smurfit-Stone for 9 years. Due to my own disabilities of severe anxiety and depression, and my wife's disabilities. I required reasonable accomadations from the company under the act of Americans with disabilities.
These accomadations were met for the entire length of my employment. However my imidiate supervisor had a problem with me that rooted from these accomadations. He did not like complying with them. He harrassed and belittled me on a constant basis. Trashing me to other employees and in general making things as difficult as possible for me. I complained of the harrassment to upper management. They basicly swept the entire matter under the rug. I made numerous complaints to management that went un answered.
I then told them that my next complaint would be with corperate where I would include a complaint of their inaction, as this is the next step according to policy that I needed to take. I was told if I did I would have no job.
This went on for about 5 years. Then I finally made a complaint through eMail about my supervisors behavior, stating it was illeagal and mentioned leagal action if it continued. As now I had no other alternatives. 3 days later they had a safety siminar we were supposed to attend. My car broke down leaving me on the side of the road which I had auto parts reciepts proving my trouble.
I missed the meeting. The next day they fire me for insubordination for missing that day. This being an obvious attempt to remedy their problem instead of handling it the way they should have. They list the cause as insubordination in an attempt to deny unemployment to add further injury.
I am now seeking an attorney to handle the case. Mean while my family is supported by the state, the tax payer.
I was told I brought it on myself. And if standing in defense of the rights of the disabled makes that so than fine. I would do it again.
This company obviously has a complete disregard for the well being of their employees to subject them to the behavior of the supervisor. My complaints were not alone. However the other employees are no doubt further silenced by the example made of me. As they were all fully aware of the situation, and had been for years.
The company further disrespects the laws of this state and country that were placed to protect the disabled from this type of behavior.
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