PREFACE
One of the most devastating things that any individual can experience is abuse both physically, sexually, and emotionally especially in the workplace. The labels we give this abuse varies depending on the individuals involved. We can call it discrimination and retaliation, abuse, a misunderstanding, false claim or any other name in between.
However, when an individual believes they have been the victim of abuse in the workplace, they turn to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for assistance. EEOC's statistics in both private industry and government have documented a significant increase in claims alleging employment discrimination. A significant number of those claims are for retaliation.
Discrimination and all its forms affects the individuals mental health, physical health, and retaliatory acts are declared reprehensible by so many employees yet many of these same employers do not take the necessary steps to prevent discrimination from occurring in the first place. And when discrimination is found, they expend tremendous time, money and resources.
Those few individuals who are successful in proving that their employer or a government entity discriminated, have presented powerfully compelling evidence that could not be denied. Unfortunately the tied of justice is even changing in that arena. Federal judges are dismissing cases without cause and ignoring or delaying ruling on cases with impunity.
Members of Congress are pushing legislation that would prevent the use of Class-Actions as a tool to share the high cost of litigation among those able to afford and most likely to suffer from discriminatory practices: women, the poor and minorities.
The case of claims against federal agencies for employment discrimination are handled with callous disregard for human suffering. The EEOC, is the agency responsible for ensuring that private industry and the federal sector comply with Civil Rights employment statutes - yet they must impose an unbiased adjudication of claims of discrimination. EEOC has for decades operated a complaint processing system that it admits is void of due process for these employees.
Many organizations have just recently been made aware of this mischarge of justice. Few if any have taken the necessary steps to address the problem. Most have decided to "not rock the boat" and let sleeping dogs lie. In the meantime, the lives of countless employees both private industry and government are being destroyed by officials who know that there is no justice, no liberty and no peace for employees who dares challenge it's institution.
Cathy Harris has taken the very bold and courageous step of speaking truth to power exposing the corruption in her former agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection under the Department of Homeland Security, and advising others to do the same.
This collection of stories is designed to help the public understand why they are experiencing what appears to be a tidal wave of corruption in Corporate America and government. Cathy is raising the volume in her book on discrimination. Not only will she venture in the workplace but the entire judicial system which is the real prepetrators for injustice in the workplace. I commend Cathy for taking on this task. The ancestors must be proud...
