Legal issues at work

[gavelkind]

So, in Dec, I was hired at my current job in a behind the scenes job. It was doing something I liked but at a lower pay, and it was a one year contract job. Two months in, a new Director joined when the older one moved on. The new director kept insisting I was a salesperson when she joined. She insisted I would be able to sell our product easily. At one point I expressed in a meeting about how I was not right for that position because I have communication issues, and how I had been hired for a different job. After 30 mins of explaining to her that I had communication issues, she told me, " I don't get your point with this discussion." She refuses to listen to anyone and even when we ask for help, she dismisses everyone. Keep in mind that this is a NYC job. Tax-payer money is going to a city agency where our boss encourages us to lie to the public about the misleading services we offer. I've complained to other co-workers and they agree with my points. In fact, they have their own issues and have offered to help me by hooking me up with the numbers I need to call! So, after a few weeks of keeping my mouth shut, I met with a manager and after he promised that none of the information I gave him would be used against me, I complied. I told him about how I'm seeing a therapist to deal with my communication and trust issues, and that working in an environment with such a toxic vibe was overwhelming. I had become depressed due to unrealistic goals when they would refuse to offer me any guidance or training. That for someone who doesn't like talking and has major trust issues, a sales position was unrealistic especially when they refuse to offer ways to help and cope. My manager said he understood and agreed and would talk to our boss. An hour later, I was fired for not performing well. Everyday we meet with managers and we go into detail about how we spend our days, and never had they called me out on ANYTHING. Now all of a sudden Im not performing? Thing is, that this happened to someone else recently too. Someone at work gave me the number of the last person at our job who was fired, and I called him. Turns out he was fired right after admitting he was seeing a therapist and has mental issues. He had also been hired at that job for a behind the scenes role, and was also placed in a completely opposite role when she took over. She has racist and homophobic undertones in her words too. She thought I was straight at first and when a conversation where I was seeking guidance and started to open up t her, she told me to man up and thought that was good advice. I am thinking of going to  her boss and explaining these issues in a calm and smooth manner, yet I'm being told to get in touch with a lawyer over this. I called a center my social worker recommended and waiting to hear back, but wanted to see if somebody has advice? Things she has been doing are legally wrong when it comes to permanent employees (they can't get fired once they're a perm city employee), but I'm a contract employee. Yet knowing the only two people who have been fired are two gay men who both admitted to seeing therapists/having mental and emotional issues we are trying to solve leaves a really sour taste in my mouth. I'm trying to put all the facts and things I know and how this all occurred. Wanted advice on how to deal with a job that discriminates against anyone who admits to having a mental/emotional issue? The other guy has what happened to him in writing (we agreed to team up), and with me it happened verbally. despite this, everyone in the office hates her, and have claimed they'd come forward if it's in an environment where they won't get punished. I'm thinking of talking to her boss, mentioning her illegal moves, and urging to talk to the whole group without her presence so they can freely express their thoughts. The majority of people at this agency are gay men and black women, and those are her main targets.

[mecch]

Id say you need a lawyer. You seem too close to the situation to see it clearly.

If you are fired, I don't see how or why a current upper manager is going to talk to you about your ex-boss, without a lawyer pushing the issue, and with different people - their counsel, or HR. 

If you are fired, you are fired.

You can get a lawyer about the possible discrimination and see how being a contract worker fits in.

Tell the lawyer your "whistle blower" information. 

It won't help telling any current employee, especially in management. 

[Jeff G]

I'm wishing you the best and I am sure you are already keeping an exact journal of who what when and where's so you can be consistent in your statements .

[mecch]

PS - I am very sorry you got fired. Getting fired is the worst. Getting fired because of discrimination - grrr!   
Working for a bad boss is soul killing, as well.  You should know that, unfortunately, sometimes management protects bully bosses.  Its awful, but its true. 
The only silver lining is that if that person won't disappear, you wouldn't have wanted to stay working for such a person.  I've been there. We need our jobs, money.  But the soul-killing boss is beast and its always a blessing to be removed from such a position.

[gavelkind]

Thanks guys. I suppose it is best I just wait and try to deal with a lawyer first..

And yes, I'm taking notes, names, and dates down so I have some sort of case to start with.

I've been on an emotional roller-coaster since it happened. One minute, I'm all: I'm gonna stand up for myself! The next: I'm crying while watching Survivor. The following I'm happy looking at my garden. The next I'm pissed and want to make a point.

It really amazed me and clicked what was going on when I talked to the other guy who was fired under similar circumstances.

Are there places in NYC where I can maybe seek guidance? My social worker gave me a firm in Brooklyn, but they haven't responded to my call. I guess I'm just being impatient, but wanna get on it while I'm in a productive mood. Afraid of falling into an unproductive state. :/

[zach]

One minute, I'm all: I'm gonna stand up for myself! The next: I'm crying while watching Survivor. The following I'm happy looking at my garden. The next I'm pissed and want to make a point.
 :/

we should hang out, sounds like we have similar evenings lately

[aaware72]

What was in your employment contract?