I am deaf and regularly experience ability-based discrimination in the workplace including comments on my speech, inappropriate jokes, ableism, refusal to look at me when speaking so I can speech read and inappropriate or disparaging comments about my suitability for promotion. It impacts my mental health and contributes to an unwelcoming or hostile workplace.

I was harassed by a co-worker who happened to be the wife of my boss. Comments were made about my Eastern Europe origin and my accent. I was accused of inappropriately using the printer, reading her emails and leaving the heat on even though I was not the last one to leave. In other instances,… Read More »Story Sixteen

During an interview, one of the owners started to come onto me. At first, it was light comments “you’re very intelligent…and beautiful” but it quickly escalated to inappropriate physical contact such as reaching for my hands, footsie under the table and plainly saying “I wish you were coming back to my hotel room with me.”… Read More »Story Fifteen

I often receive negative comments from both coworkers and customers regarding being a plus size woman. Sexual comments were received by both male and female comments and at times resulted in inappropriate touching. In one instance I was called “just a baby carrier”, the manager wanted to take action and fire the individual however was… Read More »Story Fourteen

I have experienced name calling, feeling isolated, been given tasks which were not the same as my co-workers of the same level and experience. These experiences I feel are part of systematic biases resulting in my fear of reprisal, continued sense of being isolated and psychological trauma.

I was standing next to this guy at the bulletin board where people post things they are selling and stuff. There was one of our coworkers looking for a dog sitter and the guy next to me said I shouldn’t bother applying because the guy with the dogs wouldn’t ever let a chink stay with… Read More »Story Twelve

They only pair whites on white or people of color with each other for shifts because they say that way they don’t have to worry about any kinds of complaints. But they don’t get that there is something just so wrong about that even, or that male people of color can harass women of any… Read More »Story Eleven

Every time one of 3 guys walks past me, they do this gross thing with their tongue—kind of making a licking motion with it, kind of curled at the end and say stuff like “oh baby, is that nice?”. I’m a queer, and I have no doubt it’s a sexual thing. I just want to… Read More »Story Ten

I think it is kind of telling that not one of us gets invited out for drinks after work or included in any after-work activities. I know they should be able to pick whoever they want to hang out with, but it’s not like they are all old buddies. A new white guy can start… Read More »Story Nine

….the thing is, what they do is kind of sneaky and it can be hard to explain why it is wrong to other people. But it is like water dripping on the ground all the time, making a hole that gets bigger and bigger. Sometimes it’s things like calling me by the name of a… Read More »Story Eight