Vote on Desiree Davidson's Story
Were they afraid we were planning a coup d'etat?
I spent my first summer during Columbia Law School at a firm in Philadelphia described as one of the best places in the city for black lawyers. I believed that if there was any place where I would have an equal chance at opportunities, be treated fairly and succeed, this would be it. There were three black female summer associates out of sixty that year but any time all three of us were in an office talking, one of the partners would knock on the door to see how we were doing. It happened too often to be a coincidence that sometimes we would purposely agree to meet in so-and-so's office to test our theory that we were being monitored. Like clock work, ten minutes after we would get together a partner would stop by.
Human Resources
I had a run-in with a prima donna coworker who was not really liked by many, but was valued by the executives because he brought in a significant portion of the business.
At my former job, I experienced sexual harassment from a senior employee. I was not the only female in the office to be on the receiving end of inappropriate comments, jokes and touches, but I was the only person to report this to Human Resources.
When I was hired as a full-time employee at Kaiser Permanente, I found my new manager hated the manager I had worked for previously as a contractor, and she constantly tried to use me against her and trying to get me to speak "dirt" about her (using leading questions and even very subtle threats, like putting off my training schedule as long as I wasn't cooperating).
I would tell someone to have a clear idea of where they see themselves within the company. I would have them firmly take that stand and use other resources, such as HR and other departments to help them make their work experience more to their liking.
I made a big sacrifice and relocated to North Carolina from New York. I was told that the people who volunteered for the relocation would be compensated, but I never was and when I brought it up to HR they automatically replied, "It's not a racial issue.
One of the executives had a pattern of yelling at people during meetings and using profane language beyond swearing.
I went to HR with the problems I had with my supervisor and initially they were very welcoming and wanted to hear my story.
I was the only African-American in their management team and their fund accounting department. I was doing a wonderful job until a survey was sent out to rate our superiors. It was supposed to be confidential.
When I first got the job, I was filling out the forms. I was like, what should I do? Being Middle-Eastern, technically, I'm white. Being Egyptian and Egypt is in Africa, do I choose African-American? I was being friendly to the HR person so I asked what I should do. She said, could you pick the minority? I said, yeah, sure. I am an African, I am a minority. Why not pick African-American?
I did go through HR. Of course, once you get to that point, naturally, they take a defensive role. Immediately it was taken as a racial issue. But I didn't say it was a racial issue. I didn't bring in race at all.
