Work Place Discrimination / Internship
I started this internship two weeks ago, and I thought it was great at first. Then it got worst, with being told by another member of staff that my boss did not like women and has a volatile temper. She said he even went right up to her face and started swearing, I was told he did this to all the women in the office and to just keep my head down. Then I had a disagreement with him, he was off with me from the start on that day. I didn't have the door code on me as my phone wasn't working, he said 'next time you could knock on the door' acting as if I was stupid. I tried to keep my head down and work.
I felt so undervalued, especially finding all these things to help them bring in more money (this place is a charity for children with disabilities and medical needs) I then had a chat with him as he wanted me to go to this place I had never been to that evening late as well. And I did not feel safe at all, I only got told about it the day before and just got emailed the directions saying I would have to wait outside by myself for a short time till meeting this guy I never met and then help with these children when I had no training. Plus a bus journey and a train journey so late in the evening in an unsafe place with paying my own train fares.
He made out I was being dramatic, and showed me on google maps saying he didn't know what my problem was its just a short distance away. I didn't even get my train fares paid. He also wanted me to do this weekly as well! Two times in a week helping children with disabilities and medical needs when I had no training they just gave me this pile of paper on details of the kids needs to read and that was it plus a brief chat on that morning. That day that started with the door comment just got worst, he kept making digs at me. Making out I didn't remember things properly, and maybe you need to have things made out clearer to you. I was meant to be working from home one day which he said. When I asked him about this as I had been left in the office by myself a week before and no one seemed to know I was there by myself. He just said you should have checked the job listing more clearly did it say hybrid. Which is what I never meant at all. Every concern I brought up he brought round to being my fault for not understanding the induction properly, not remembering what was said in my interview. I then felt like my autism was being made fun of, as I said I hated things sprung on me last minute such as the travel.
He seemed to think it was funny, and said 'so me leaving suddenly early would that make you panic / give you anxiety?' which is wasn't what I meant at all. He just seemed to think I was really stupid. And kept digging at me. He said 'you need to understand how a workplace works you know.' That you get things coming up which you don't know about which wasn't the point I made at all. I then asked about working from home as I said the work could easily be done at home, he just said 'its up to him and that you don't know how to do the work from home in the first place or how to use your home computer properly.' As well as this it was just the feeling of my safety continually put at risk. The place he wanted me to go to was under a bridge barely any lighting late at night. And he wanted me to do an event in July till midnight no pay. And he just said 'sure we can find you a cab or something.' I brought up this complaint to the lady who was boss above him voicing my concerns which turned out to be his mother in law. As I said I left early that day I just couldn't handle it, plus his aggressive attitude towards me. Plus him blaming all the women in the office, saying it was their fault. And 'how dare this woman call me on my day off, she planted a thought in your head that was all wrong.'
The lady emailed me back yesterday evening telling me to go on one week paid leave and that I was not under any circumstance to contact anyone in the office. And that if I wanted to come back I would have to have a meeting with her so she can decide. She made out I was being ungrateful for the job 'saying just two weeks you been here', and that I should be given time to reflect on what I said when I complained. When all I wanted to do was highlight how I didn't want to be made out to be stupid, have my autism made fun of especially when I try telling people what I struggle with, and the sexist attitude in the workplace.
I think I am going to quit but just wanted some opinions. I think as well what made me uncomfortable was the fact when I did one of the activities with kids with disabilities, and a few that had serious illnesses including wheelchairs and breathing tubes I had no proper training. Plus he checked up on what I was doing. I felt good for leaving early that day though, he just stared at me and just made me feel so uncomfortable especially coming round to my personal space and making me feel trapped. I hate people laughing about my autism especially when I feel that someone has been brave enough to tell you like I did. The boss ladies attitude was just shocking, wish I had never put in the work. I also when writing the complaint email copied in my boss he never bothered to reply, or when reading my note I left on his desk saying I had left early never checked on my wellbeing.
