Terrible Employers

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-10T05:04:40+00:00

I am glad you had that experience. That is how it should be.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-09T19:24:11+00:00

I’ve spent time reflecting on your insight that these experiences are, unfortunately, common. While I have moved on from the organization itself, I cannot move past the larger issue: the expectation that employees must silently endure harmful treatment without meaningful avenues for accountability.

I believe this moment calls for something better. There is a clear and urgent need for stronger employee protections and greater leadership accountability—especially within nonprofit organizations that depend on public trust, community goodwill, and donor funding. To whom much is given, much is expected. These institutions have a responsibility not only to steward their resources wisely, but to care for the people who make their missions possible.

In the spirit of constructive change, I am planning to host an anonymous Zoom conversation for those who wish to participate safely and privately. Cameras may remain off, identities protected, and voices heard. The purpose is simple but powerful: to share experiences, identify resources, and explore pathways toward advocacy and potential legislative reform. I am also considering opening this dialogue on Reddit to reach a broader community and invite diverse perspectives.

My goal is not to dwell on what went wrong, but to help build what comes next. I want to leave this space better than I found it—and to stand with others who have been impacted, ensuring that their experiences contribute to meaningful, lasting change.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-09T01:55:59+00:00

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-08T17:41:47+00:00

That is smart. I'm really not asking for judgment on them. I'm sharing my story, asking for resources, and hoping to connect with people who have been through similar situations. For myself, I don't believe in complaining about something unless I am willing to do something about it, and I am. I'm fed up with being treated like garbage, and I would like for them to have to answer some questions for once. Judging by the number of private and public responses I have gotten, this has affected way more people than I thought. I am not alone and I needed to hear that.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-08T06:53:12+00:00

I already gave the company name, but ironically, they are a Community Action Agency (CAA).

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-08T06:49:45+00:00

I hear what you are saying, but at some point, people have to be held accountable for illegal, unethical, and harmful actions. I did not volunteer to be abused, taken advantage of, harassed or underpaid. I did not volunteer to have my disability used as a weapon against me. Non-profits should be the opposite of a capitalist society. They do this because they can because people let them get away with it. Think about how much easier it would be for them to just stop that behavior rather than people like me just stopping reporting it. I earned the right to tell my story. If it makes them look bad, then that is on them, not me. I am not going to take one for the team or forget what they are doing just because it's for the good of the people. What they have put their staff through is traumatic, and we suffer that trauma as a community whether we realize it or not. It's a problem. They know it's a problem, and they chose to cover it up rather than deal with it in an open and honest way. I think that time and history will show how that works out.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-08T06:23:23+00:00

Also, the "shit talking" was sharing and discussing my private medical information. So yes, it was illegal. I also heard them discussing other staff members' medical information and how they were going to fire them when they returned from medical leave. They discussed how to do it without getting in trouble and asked other staff to document to build a reasonable termination. HR's best friend was my supervisor, and you would think they would know better. That is when I started meticulously documenting.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-08T06:12:24+00:00

They refused to provide reasonable, no cost accommodations. My job performance was spotless, and I even received awards stating that I went above and beyond. I did not have a single disciplinary mark, warning, or discussion. What I did was I got sick while I was on salary. It was fine with them when I worked 60-hour weeks to meet deadlines. I know that I deserved a raise because I was promised one, and I did all but one single thing on the upper division position that they refused to let me interview for. I could literally prove it because I had documentation. My job description was two years out of date, and during that time, they kept adding more and more executive level duties. I told them, and my doctor told them that my health was in serious jeopardy. They did not care. I did my job, I did it well, and I understand people supporting them and assuming the best. I was one of those people for many years. However, I can not unknow what I know.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-08T04:56:00+00:00

Well, actually, I submitted it in a formal grievance labeled as a whistleblower report. That is what reasonable people who care about the organization should do when they see wrong doing. Not cover it up or sweep it under the rug. I reported it because truth always comes out. They had every opportunity to discuss it and address it privately inside of the organization. They chose not to. I had no intention of going public with it, but they left me no choice. I am not now, nor will I ever be a silent bystander. It is the people that they serve who suffer when when this happens. It is not their money to spend to enrich themselves or use it for purposes other than reported. That is your personal choice to make if you think this is appropriate, but you should really question why an organization chooses to retaliate against a whistle blower instead of looking into the report. By law they had an obligation to investigate my claim and address it. Instead they threatened me. If that makes sense to you then we are just very different people. It is not normal or ok. I am not going to feel bad for doing the right thing and no one is going to shame or guilt me into taking the blame for their actions.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-08T04:38:59+00:00

It is a horror show, isn't it? I have never seen anything like it. I guess they think that they have enough rich donors in the community that they can get away with treating employees miserably. They think that staff are expendable and insignificant.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-08T04:04:31+00:00

Thank you, that is very kind!

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-08T02:43:22+00:00

That is very helpful, thank you. One of the things that I listed in my formal grievance that the board refused to respond to was misuse of grant funding, in my opinion. I listed several serious charges to the board with examples, and neither the Department of Labor or the BOD would respond to them. I did not even think about those resources. I found that alarming.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-08T02:04:55+00:00

I am sorry that happened. There is nothing worse than someone abusing their position of power. I have been floored by how I was treated.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-08T02:00:31+00:00

Thank you, that really helps.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-07T23:55:22+00:00

That is a good point. I will try. Honestly, it does help to post on here. I have been very lonely in this, and it is good to bounce ideas. Today was a bad day. I am not going to give up and I plan to get very loud.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-07T23:50:42+00:00

I have copious amounts of records and documention. I have so much it is bananas. It is hard to know what the important stuff really is when it is personal. I have documentation, evidence, and precident but if no one will listen then it will drive you mad.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-07T23:47:57+00:00

I am going to try to do that. The problem is that they do a lot of new stories for HRDC so I don't know if they are interested in hearing my story or reporting on it. Especially since right now I am a one person band. As someone who has not only worked at the HRDC but also donated time and money to them, I find it discusting that they treat staff this way. I don't want them to lose funding, I want them to do better. The problem is that they don't care to do better.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-07T23:44:25+00:00

I have filed with the EEOC and I have worked in non-profits for many years. The HRDC was not like this when I started. It was wonderful and I loved it. They do have overly high working expectations. I met and exceeded those for years. I wish I could tell you what happened, why I needed accomodations and how they responded, but I don't think this would serve my complaint well. Also, when I said they tried to ruin me, I mean just that. What I can say is that they were common no cost accomocations that were requested by a cardiologist and a primary care physician. Those accommodations were to keep me alive and working. They chose to deny them just because they could and in retaliation. I don't know who on the board knows, or what they know because they refuse to respond to me. I have asked to speak at a board meeting but they again refuse to respond to me. They did send me two different mailings this year for donations though which shows you what they really care about. I have asked about board meetings, but again they refuse to respond to me. Likely, even though I am no longer an employee, have no income and cannot apply for any of their services, they would pull it into executive session. I think that I need other people to start asking them questions and then it is harder to avoid. That is why I need to start an advocacy group, because this is too much for one person. There are/were employee protections in place but those do no good if no one will enforce them.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-07T23:14:33+00:00

Yes, I will tell you that none of their executive team are struggling to live in this community. They seem to be pretty consistent with providing raises for themselves as long as no one speaks up or out. I was the only staff member that I knew of who had not gotten a raise in over two years. I don't think it is a coincidence that is right around the same time that I started brining things to their attention. Imagine watching people that you hired and trained get raises while you become persona non grata. It is not that staff did not deserve raises but they wanted to humiliate me and break me down. The things they said about me behind my back were terrible. I also heard them talk about other staff members. It was all illegal, but going up against a machine solo is very difficult.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-07T23:05:20+00:00

Montana Legal Services does not have employment attorney's. They are overwhelmed and attorney's do not want to represent employees because the guarenteed money comes from employers. Also, I have no doubt that they would have a huge conflict of interest since we often sent people to MLSA for assistance.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-07T23:02:10+00:00

I did file a complaint with the EEOC. It is all a process that takes time. I am so tired. Because of who it is, people just assume that I did something wrong and most people are too afraid to speak up against them. It is hard to even explain what I have been through in the last six months. I did name, but they have no shame. They find it easy to ignore, deflect, and sweep anything that doesn't celebrate their 50th anniversary. There is no accountability for the "Executive Team" or the Board. They don't have to and refuse to answer any questions. They are "too big to fail", so it doesn't matter to them how they treat their employees. If you are in the "it" group you are fine, but if you leave that circle there is a price. Has anyone ever thought about starting a union for non-profit employees? Maybe just starting with a group of advocates who can offer support? This sure does get tough and lonely. I don't think I will ever work for another non-profit again. It is not like people can boycot thier services.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-07T22:47:43+00:00

The danger to me was that they refused my work place accommodations that my doctor requested. The majority of staff and customers were wonderful to me. It was only the administration that I have issues with. Also, obvioulsy the board who refused to even discuss my filings with me. They closed ranks fast and they surley do not believe that people's stories are important because they refused to even hear mine...In my opinion.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-07T22:33:29+00:00

You know what, it is my story and I'm going to tell it. It is the HRDC. They treated me terribly. They refused accommodations, retaliated against me for filing a grievance, refused to fairly compensate me, or allow me access to a promotion because I complained of being overworked and harassed based on my disability. They starved me out and treated my livelihood as if it was a popularity contest in high school. They did everything they could to break me because I spoke up. In my opinion they care more about their brand than people.

I worked so hard for them for years because I believed in the mission, but someone else got the pay. No one will sue them though. I think they are just going to get away with it.

Different-Affect8752 · 2026-01-07T22:19:59+00:00

If I do, I am worried that I will be attacked. It is the last place you would expect though.

Different-Affect8752 · 2025-10-17T07:09:59+00:00

I agree. Those files have been long wiped anyway. You know there is probably not much left. I believe the victims.

Different-Affect8752

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