Monday, June 21, 2010

Toronto Western Hospital Blamed Victim For Racist Sexual Abuse???




What's with all of these workplaces condoning the racist and sexual abuse of their employees by their co-workers and superiors these days?

In this case, a young black female worker, Stacey Walker, at the Toronto Western Hospital was sexually harassed by 3 of her male superiors, and was also a victim of harsh racism, and when she reported it, her claims were dismissed by her bosses saying the abusers were harmless. In one case, when she reported it to the HR department, they told her that she had a problem, and should take an assertiveness workshop...

And again, like in the case at the Mississauga Transportation and Works Department, these 3 criminal scumbags are being protected by their employer, and it's the victim who is on leave... The hospital is still saying that there may be disciplinary action, not confirming that the abusers will even get punished. Instead, talking about a "healing and counselling" process for the abusers and department (given that the victim does not plan to return after the betrayal by Hospital Management).

This is another clear case where abusers are defended by the employer, and victims are dismissed. The 3 abusers should be fired immediately, and should have criminal charges pending. The HR worker who failed to assist the victim, should also be fired immediately. I mean, what is HR there for if they're just going to dismiss the victim, and defend the abusers? University Health Network President Robert Bell should resign immediately in disgrace for allowing this conduct to go on at the hospital.

Here's the story from the Toronto Star:

Hospital worker was taunted, sexually harassed
A young black woman working in the medical imaging department at Toronto Western Hospital was sexually harassed and the object of racial taunts in what a hospital investigation concluded was a “poisoned work environment.”

Stacey Walker maintains her complaints were ignored for 16 months until a senior hospital official stepped in. Now, Walker says she has been told by another official that she can either have three months pay and leave, or return to the same job.

Walker, 28, a medical imaging technologist, is breaching a wall of secrecy by speaking about her case in hope that the hospital, part of the University Health Network, will make changes to the way it handles sensitive complaints.

“Get up, give me your seat and go make me some stew,” one white technologist shouted, while standing threateningly “over” her, Walker recalled in an interview with the Star. In another instance, a different technologist showed Walker racially tinged cartoons while she was performing a CT scan on a patient, a procedure that carries a high margin of error.

Next, when she kept her composure, the technologist sang in her ear, Walker says, and followed her into another room to try again to rattle her.

Another imaging employee, Walker's mentor, had earlier massaged her shoulders without consent and said he wished she wasn't wearing a bra, the report confirmed.

That same employee who demanded she make stew, threw Walker's credentials badge on the floor and as she bent down to pick it up, whipped a bottle cap at her legs.

University Health Network President Robert Bell said in an interview Friday he could not comment on the results of the confidential investigation. Bell said the matter will be concluded in the next few weeks and while there may be disciplinary action, there will also be “healing and counselling” needed in the busy department.

An immediate boss tried to convince Walker that the senior technologist was harmless.

A senior human resources manager suggested she take an assertiveness training workshop offered online on the hospital's intranet. That same manager told Walker she would probe the situation, first by getting in touch with the senior technologist, but never did.

Taunts, lies and abuse reached a fever pitch several times over almost two years, Walker says. Some coworkers were kind to her, but many would turn their heads when she entered a room. A fellow female X-ray tech would remark if there was another man present: “Oh Stacey, don't worry. He's safe.”

Rumours spread, some nasty. One of Walker's coworkers told others that she killed a patient, she says.

Coworkers called Walker names, such as Shaniqua, Chaka Khan, La Toya and “dark walker.” In the report, employees are quoted saying the latter referred to her “evil . . . persona,” not the colour of her skin.

Unless the abusers, the people who let it continue, and Management who ignored it are made accountable for these crimes, one can't expect that things will change...

Let's see if things end up any better than the complete an utter failure of the Mississauga Mayor, Peel Police Department and Department of Labour in the Domenic Galamini case...

--jackandcokewithalime


(Image:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sillygwailo/3633864156/sizes/l/ by sillygwailo on flickr
)

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm actually an employee in that department and let me tell you, there are definitely more sides to this story than you may think. UHN medical imaging is likely the most multiculured department in Toronto. To make allegations that racism exists is absurd, and I mean that..we are a close group and we are all from very different backgrounds. Much of what is being reported has been taken out of context and restructured to make things sound deliberate and plotted when in fact no real sexual or racial incidents ever occurred. The truth has been so twisted by the "victim" that resources, money and time has gone into this investigation which truely yielded nothing, when it could have been better spend on patient care. And if you want a bit more insight into the "mind" that's at work here, do a bit of research and check out the other lawsuits that have been filed by this individual looking for a quick buck.

Anonymous said...

This is another example of Bureaucracy!!! They cover each other.

Non-union technians are under the bottom, with pressures from the patients, from the boss, from the team, from other departments. No one protects them.

Anonymous said...

This is not the first time UHN fires an employee who was harassed @ Toronto Western Hospital. UHN is well know to always blame the victim and of breaching employee's human rights. All one has to do is find out how many human right complaints they've had against them!
Then they send emails to all staff saying that at uhn there's a zero tolerance for harassment ...as if we believe them! Anyone I know that has complained to HR at UHN of being harassed is FIRED! This last case is only 1 more amongst the all the others. The sad part is that this is our tax payers money at work in our hospitals! Can someone tell me how this money paid to the victims of wrongful dismissal @ Toronto Western Hospital is benefiting our patients???

Anonymous said...

The direct manager should resign!!!
The manager of "poisoned" department should resign!!!

The direct manager should resign!!!
The manager of "poisoned" department should resign!!!

The direct manager should resign!!!
The manager of "poisoned" department should resign!!!

The direct manager should resign!!!
The manager of "poisoned" department should resign!!!

The direct manager should resign!!!
The manager of "poisoned" department should resign!!!

The direct manager should resign!!!
The manager of "poisoned" department should resign!!!

The direct manager should resign!!!
The manager of "poisoned" department should resign!!!

Anonymous said...

it's too easy to cry racism nowadays and get away with it. I'd like to know how many people in this medical imaging department are a minority, are female, and are under the age of 30. Because this many instances of racism to one person cannot happen in the 21st century in Toronto unless the whole dept. are redneck hicks over 50 and most medical imaging dept's are usually 90% female. I don't believe this girl is telling the truth because this many instances of racism cannot happen at one place especially in a city as diverse as Toronto.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I agree.
The manager of this department should take the full/direct responsibility of this case, it is he/she who makes the case worse and worse.

The direct manager should resign!!!
The manager of "poisoned" department should resign!!!

Anonymous said...

Yes.
The direct manager should resign!!!

Yes.
The direct manager should resign!!!

Yes.
The direct manager should resign!!!

Yes.
The direct manager should resign!!!

Yes.
The direct manager should resign!!!

Yes.
The direct manager should resign!!!

Yes.
The direct manager should resign!!!

Yes.
The direct manager should resign!!!

/ said...

http://staceytoronto.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

The biggest bully at UHN just happens to be the Head of HR,EP. Rumor has it Bob Bell is afraid of her.

Anonymous said...

I have encountered racism by Sharon Rogers. She hates Muslims and will do anything to reflect the incompetence of the doctors and put it on patients. she should be fully investigated by Human Rights commission for her conducts.