Ok so I know my day job really has nothing to do with firefighting, but there have been some things going on at work that I just need to get off my chest. Please bear with me. Ok so seriously there are only so many things a girl can handle and I'm beginning to feel like I reached the full point a looooong time ago... See I work with severely developmentally and physically disabled adults, so of course privacy and protection are our two biggest concerns at work!! Because of this I'm not going to say any names and we'll just call everyone he, she, or "the bitch". Yes, my work is not for everyone, it takes a ton of patience and an abundance of love which I was thankfully blessed with and so I really enjoy my job right now. I also really enjoy most of the people I work with...actually I enjoy all of them except "the bitch". You see, one of my clients is the sweetest little thing ever, and though I shouldn't have one this client is my favorite! Now all of a sudden, "mysteriously" when "the bitch" started working one on one with this client, her sweet behavior went away. She began backing herself into corners and throwing up her arms as if to protect herself whenever you would even enter her personal space. That just absolutely broke my heart, I felt like my client had been let down, because these are the classic signs of abuse that we are taught to look for. Now I'm not one to jump to conclusions and so after long deliberations and random observations as team leader of the house, I sadly discovered that "the bitch" was responsible for all of this.

I went through all the proper procedures for reporting and felt really good about all of it thinking that I had successfully protected my client, and kept "the bitch" from ever hurting any defenseles handicapped person again. Well boy was I wrong. Apparently some people in my company didn't think it was very important and after coming up with no evidence closed the abuse investigation in 2 days. I was absolutely devestated!!! How the f*** can you say you're all about the advocacy and protection of our clients if you don't even take 6 different abuse allegations seriously?! Are you here for your job? Apparently not, more likely it seems you're in it for the god damned paycheck. It makes me sick to my stomach to think that this is how our system "protects" people!!

To make matters worse, one of my good friends switched days with me so I could take care of some things today, and "the bitch" was back from vacation. "The bitch" seems to think that my good friend is the one solely responsible for the abuse allegations which is not true at all and proceeded to take it out on her cussing her out and calling her the most profane names ever, all in front of our clients!!! Is that any way to be professional and caring? HA apparently noone has a problem with it, so can someone please explain to me how that is appropriate behavior? When one of the toughest women I know calls me crying, broken down, do you really think justice is being done? And to top it all off, my immediate supervisor just brushed it all aside, like it was nothing at all that "the bitch" was making a miserable working environment for a wonderful worker who has been there for almost a year!!!! I can't understand any of this, and I'm actively looking for a new job because I can't handle knowing that my company blatantly turns the other cheek at abuse allegations and doesn't seem to have our clients' best interests at heart......

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Comment by steven zahaba on August 25, 2008 at 8:37am
I am glad to hear that your clients have a guardian angel [you] to care for them thank you for being there for them and wish you the best of luck stay safe
Comment by Rick on August 22, 2008 at 11:05pm
Just my two cents - Its sad , but true some people are concerned with guarding their paychecks - agencies will some times hide or dismiss incidents - no unfortuntly budgets may not provide a proper level of safety (camera's) - for patients and Staff !

That said - protect yourself - if the B-women is of higher standing in the agency be vary - vary careful of your words and actions. You see how easily your own words can be spun to make you look bad. Obviously the B-Womn feels secure enough to go after your co-worker , so again dont post to much in public places. Do your job and document - document - write down names of people , dates , times and subjects/reasons when B-women harrasses patients or co-workers. As long as your "Factual and as unbiased" as possible in your efforts. Don't embellish or add your opinions - just facts.

You don't need to and some times its better not to tell others what your doing at first. Once you have enough facst - do as the other poster wrote - find the apropriate agency get educated on patient rights andwork place rights - not just from the agency where you work . Find out proper and legal ways to getan outside agency involved.

Be careful - be honest and most of all stay at your job - if you leave your just another "disgruntled Employee" - worst of all that patient and others may be subject to B-womens harrassment. Atleast you know when your there she's properly taken care of.


God Bless
Stay Safe
Comment by Ashleigh on August 21, 2008 at 3:08am
Well excuse the profanity, it may not be the best way to go about things, and I'm not usually one to call names, but this is just ridiculous. Picking on someone who has no way to defend themselves, I mean the clients I work with are completely non verbal so it's not like they can say, hey, so and so is abusing me. But another problem is that they funded only enough to put one video camera in the living room and all employees know about it! I have tried to get them to fund for more "hidden" cameras in more parts of the house so it just takes away the opportunity.
Comment by firechief911 on August 20, 2008 at 8:11pm
i agree. everyone has a boss keep going up till you get to the right one
Comment by Brian Dumser on August 20, 2008 at 6:48pm
It sound like a "hostile work environment". You and the others that have seen "the bitch" being abusive towards clients as well as co-workers, should get together and formally complain to your supervisor (both written and verbally). If your immediate supervisor will not handle it, then take it to his/her supervisor and so on.
Comment by Justin Buck on August 20, 2008 at 5:58pm
some people are just sorry

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