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Quit before I was fired... Found no protection under whistleblower clause

Posted by: spankey074
Date: 1/6/2007 10:22:08 AM

Let me tell you my story in hopes that it will assist with yours. I was a very successful 7 year veteran at the facility I worked for. I supervised 3 people directly and indirectly supervised 8 more. I had noticed some strange behavior in my boss over the years but finally she really dropped the ball. I caught her fudging data on an FDA recalled product test.

I confronted her about the issue and she brushed me off. I then took it higher in the company (they didn’t want to deal with even the suggestion that their 9 year manager could be doing such a thing). I had the evidence and the moral courage to not allow this to go forward, the outcome of which could affect hundreds of thousands of people.

I made my move and placed calls to a lawyer, the labor board, an employment advocacy board member, and finally to the FDA. The company was served notice by the FDA for an audit of their systems. Next thing I knew, my job was a living hell. Things started turning up missing from my projects. My phone and e-mail were bugged and logged (this was allowed by company policy stating that phone and e-mail are company property and they can do what they want, i.e. record you etc. I was written up for the errors of my subordinates. I was told that my bonus was cancelled and they then cancelled my vacation I had been planning for 9 months because we were just too busy. Interestingly enough everyone else in my department went on vacation while I sat there.

I cited the company for a hostile work environment and for unfair labor practice. The next day I was called in front of corporate and accused of misrepresenting data. I told them to prove it. They asked to see my project from the previous day but when I went to retrieve it, it was missing. I know where I placed everything and I know it was done appropriately. My boss sat there with a smug look on her face and continued to pull things out of her backside from 7 years back! She even mentioned that I was late on day over 6 years ago and that it was a sign of my instability. I wanted to claw her eyes out.

The HR director told me that my anger was a sign of my guilt because an innocent person would not be angry over these accusations. I asked her where she received her psychology degree. My honor and reputation were being challenged for no reason over issues that were much more petty than my boss fudging an FDA project!

They placed me on a two day suspension for insubordination and said they would re-evaluate me in 30 days to see if my attitude improved. I kept my head low, and my thoughts to myself. In the meantime I found another job that pays twice as much and has benefits that you would not believe! I gave my ex-employer 2 minutes notice, packed my things and left.

As for any legal avenues, I really didn’t have any. It is an employment at will state and everything was essentially my word against theirs. Emotionally I was a mess, but I am doing so much better now. I sleep at night, I have put some weight back on, and I can hold my head high knowing I did the right thing and my integrity is intact.

As for the FDA project, It went out as she had reported it. She did a great job making up data and supporting it with made up documentation that did not exist until months after the project had been completed. I know, because I read through it. I was there and performed some of the work myself. I have no doubt that the product will be in the news again some day. I wish there was more I could tell you.

To my old company, Jack Welch is not the end all of experts on how to run a company. Especially when you are a small independent private entity. He did great things for GE, however, you are not GE. I thank you for the time I did have with you. It is sad to see what you have done to yourselves and the path you have taken. This path will only destroy you and the people that work for you. My suggestion: Dump the incompetent managers and hire those who know how to work with people. Just because someone has been there the longest does not mean they will be the best manager. Best of luck in you FDA audit.

To everyone else: Don't ever bend on your integrity. If the atmosphere isn't right, get out!

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