OlibeezooMay 15, 2023
EVHaste

I have sufficient reason and evidence to believe that I was terminated from Rune Labs in retaliation for protected anti-discrimination whistleblowing activity.

Normally, NDA would prohibit me from disclosing this. However, thanks to Washington’s Silenced No More Act, my ability to speak about discrimination, harassment, or retaliation that I have witnessed in the workplace is legally protected.

🔊Boosts appreciated.

#trans #lgbtq #discrimination #layoffs #tech

https://evhaste.com/blog/silenced-no-more

I Was Laid Off In Retaliation for Anti-Discrimination Whistleblowing – Haste Makes Waste

In order to protect women, gender nonconforming folks, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community from suffering as my peers and I have, I feel ethically obligated to go public with my experience. In this article, I will outline why I have sufficient reason to believe that my former employer Rune Labs has violated US anti-discrimination labor laws.

May 1, 2023 at 5:00pmWeb
Show threadEVHasteMay 1, 2023

I'll be honest with you, I'm actually quite frightened having posted this.

In theory, my speech is protected, but the law tends to favor capital and I am aware of this.

But out of everyone impacted, I am uniquely empowered to speak. So I believe it is my ethical responsibility to do so.

The silver lining is that I have very little left to lose.

Show threadEVHasteMay 1, 2023
also lol I didn’t realize it was labor day til just now
Show threadAuthor Sharon E. Cathcart ✅May 1, 2023

@Haste

My issue was not the same as yours, but I was also laid off/fired/whatever term you want to use for being a whistleblower. Solidarity.

Show threadEVHasteMay 1, 2023

@sharonecathcart Howdy Sharon! It’s a pleasure to meet you. ❤️ thanks for reaching out and helping me feel less alone.

Any advice you would give to someone who just pushed the big scary SEND button on something like this?

Show threadAuthor Sharon E. Cathcart ✅May 1, 2023

@Haste

I will pass on something that I received in the wake of my own whistleblowing experience.

I posted about my situation for about a year and a half on my friends-locked Livejournal (I'm old, y'all) ... and after it was all said and done, one of my pals said "Re-read this in a year and recognize that your dismissal probably did you a favor and saved your life."

Right now it's fresh and scary and horrible. And I do hope you are finding your way to a stable housing situation, etc., if you haven't already. But at some point, knowing you are doing the right thing begins to sink in ... and the shitty people? Well, they're still shitty ... but they can't do it to you anymore.

Like you, I believe that we have a duty to stand up for the marginalized. I have no regrets that I did so, nor for standing up to two horrid bully-bosses.

Please consider yourself to be hugged virtually from the Silicon Valley and know that I'm proud of what you did.

Show threadEVHasteMay 1, 2023

@sharonecathcart This is… precisely what I needed to hear in this moment.

Thank you for your wisdom. ❤️

Show threadAuthor Sharon E. Cathcart ✅May 1, 2023

@Haste

The one thing I forgot to say is that I did indeed go back and re-read those Livejournal posts about two years after the situation was over.

I felt nothing but relief that I was no longer in that situation ... and realized just how much of a toll it had all taken on my health (I couldn't see it clearly at the time, but I did talk about the medical things that were happening ... all of which could be laid at the door of stress, bullying/gaslighting, and other forms of workplace abuse). My life was indeed saved by being away from there.

I'm in a much better place career-wise than I would have if I'd caved to the bullies and liars, and I'm happy most of the time.

I'd still cheerfully slap those two bullies if I had the opportunity, but for the most part? Living well is the best revenge. They tried to break me and failed.

Show threadEVHasteMay 1, 2023

@sharonecathcart Hell yes. This really resonates with me; I had to take disability leave from the physical and emotional stress this job was putting on me, so I am definitely looking forward to having some distance from it.

I’m glad you got your best lived revenge in the end ❤️

Show threadRick OsborneMay 1, 2023

@Haste JFC.

Thanks for posting this. It's good for people in tech to see such a solid example of how we're supposed to try to help each other. I'm sorry it ended the way it did, but I truly hope your story will get a few other people to stand up and call out the BS. (Or at least help them see how toxic their environment really is, and get out on their own terms.)

As someone else in MedTech, it disgusts me to see this in an industry where the point is to try to help each other.

Show threadEVHasteMay 1, 2023

@rick Thanks, fam. ❤️

I recently had someone who was considering an offer reach out to me to ask if they should work there, and I realized this cycle was just going to repeat if nobody said anything.

I hope you get to spend your workdays making people’s lives better instead of dealing with whatever *this* was. <gestures wildly>

Also it’s good to hear from you :)

Show threadOfficially Jessica!May 1, 2023
@Haste thank you for taking the courage to write and publish this. It can not have been easy and I hope the repercussions of it do not harm you. The world needs to know about these vile behaviors.
Show threadEVHasteMay 1, 2023
@jessica Thank you for supporting me. 😭❤️
Show threadOfficially Jessica!May 1, 2023
@Haste most definitely … took the time to peruse your blog as well. You are an impressive woman worthy of support! 💜
Show threadEVHasteMay 1, 2023
@jessica Thank you! 💃 Both for taking the time to read, and for your kindness. I’ve enjoyed your boosts and posts as well. :)
Show threadBierFrau♀️♀️May 1, 2023
@Haste Notice this all the time in the brewing industry. They all want the cachet of hiring a diverse team, but think it stops there and you should be grateful they didn't just hire white, bearded men. Defending your diverse employees isn't even on the table.
Show threadAT-AT Assault 🏳️‍⚧️May 2, 2023

@Haste

I hope you and your former co-workers are able to sue Rune Labs in a class-action lawsuit.

Show threadKeithMay 2, 2023
@Haste I'm glad you can speak out now.
Show threadIts GregoryMay 2, 2023
 @Haste
GO Launch- Don't stop !
As a previous whistle blower it is a lonely world directly attacking your core values, but it will pass and you will be stronger with more wisdom...
Show threadDio9sysMay 2, 2023
@Haste
It's absolutely unconscionable what they did. Thank you for being brave enough to blow the whistle