Women Will Never Be Respected In The Technology Field.
As most of my regular readers know, I started a job December 10th as a Help Desk Analyst for a software company. I went to work every day, with the exception of the day the roads were too bad to drive, I was never late, eager and willing to learn and asked questions. I did the “secretarial jobs” they handed over to me, I put up with the guy who was started the same day, being a complete ass and changing the work I had completed behind my back. I listened to the other guy next to me tell a customer one day, “Well, the person who documented the call doesn’t know what she is doing.” I went through more than I let on, especially on this blog. I didn’t feel blogging about my issues at work would solve anything and some would take it as “typical, female complaining.”
Most of the issues began when the guy who was hired the same time as me, started changing the information in help desk calls I documented. The calls came through a software queue instead of the usual phone queue, so we could listen to the calls from the computer and document accordingly with information from the database. Simple. Extremely simple. I let it slide for a day or two until I thought, “Ya know what? I’m taking the time to listen and document the calls, so someone else can change them behind my back?” I confronted him and he acted as if he wasn’t aware I was the one documenting these specific calls. (Duh, we were the only two people documenting calls, in fact, this is basically all I did the entire month I worked). He kept doing it, so I emailed the Operations Manager and explained to him, hey, if I’m doing something wrong, let me know. I’m wanting to learn just like (insert idiots name here), but I don’t appreciate someone going behind my back re-doing work that has already been completed. I never received a reply.
During this time, (insert idiot’s name here), was being trained one on one by the lead Help Desk Analyst. He would come out of the office with a smug look on his face and go about his secret squirrel task for the day. I asked several times if I could do something-the answer was, “I’m waiting on the right call.” Oh sure, I was allowed to listen to calls, but this was the extent. Until last Friday when the lead guy came up to me and said, “Want to take this call?” I of course jumped at the chance. I looked over the call information and knew what needed to be done because of the weeks I had spent reading training manuals for restaurant owners. To keep this as non-technical as possible, all I had to do was a relink. If you know nothing about Linux this means a new kernel, (non-tech explanation-the part of Linux that makes it run), is generated, in this case from our end and sent to the store. Well, it would have been simple if I’d had the access to do this from my own PC. Once we found a PC that had the access, he handed me a piece of paper and said, “These are the instructions in case you don’t know what you’re doing.” I had to bite my tongue and say thanks. The only time I had a question is when it came time to enter a password to get into our system from the PC-which I would never have known to begin with because he said, “Don’t let anyone know the password.” I finished the job, called the manager at the store-from someone else’s phone since I was never given a phone, and yes, it worked. This was the only time I was allowed to prove I could do the job.
Friday was the day the person who interviewed me cornered me in an office while I was, yet again, doing my secretarial duties of printing manager training manuals, and said the Operations Manager had sent him the email regarding my concerns and he felt I was in some way “competing” with (insert idiot’s name here). I know I gave him a look of, “WTF are you talking about, if anything he’s competing with me,” and I did say this, only I left the WTF part out. He said he had talked to (insert idiot’s name here) and he stated I had been documenting the calls incorrectly. At this point I’m clenching my teeth. I told him I never implied I was competing, my only concern was that I wanted to learn and if I was doing something wrong I’d like to be told and not have the work done behind my back. I told him it was rough being only the 2nd female on the help desk and at times I felt as if I had to work harder to prove myself. He then goes into a little speech about how men and women handle work differently, how we take calls and in how we speak to the customers. He was basically saying, without actually saying it, that women are “softer” when it comes to handling an issue a customer may have. I let it go. I told myself 6 months was it after which I would hopefully find another job and have this experience under my belt. That was, until today when I questioned how the trip to Toronto was being paid for.
Remember- I just found out, through the company calendar, that the trip was scheduled for January 13-16, no one ever verbally confirmed anything. I was asked Monday if I had applied for my passport and I said no- that I didn’t have the $189.50 yet to do so-and I was told I wouldn’t be able to go to Vancouver in 2 weeks if I didn’t get it. (They also knew I didn’t have a passport because this was discussed in my interview. All I was asked -if I had one, I said no and they said that’s no problem, you’ll just need to get one- I was never told when I would need it). So today, (actually Tuesday since it’s 5am Wednesday morning), I asked when we were leaving and what the room situation was. I was asked if I had a credit card and I said no-and the guy who interviewed me who was apparently my immediate supervisor, (and he has only been there since November-go figure), said I would have to pay for the hotel room myself and be reimbursed when I got back. WTF? Ok let me get this straight. We were leaving to go to a large, foreign city in 4 days, and rooms hadn’t been reserved? I told him there was no way I could pay for a hotel room, gas, food etc. He then goes back to the owner’s office, I guess they have a man talk and he comes back and says,
“Beth, I don’t think this is going to work out. Part of the job is being able to travel and if you aren’t willing to go to Toronto, then we have to dismiss you today.”
Total shock. I told him it wasn’t that I didn’t want to go- I couldn’t afford to go. Big difference. Having only worked there a month, how was I to pay for a trip? Gas and food I could have handled, it would have been tight but I could have managed. A hotel room for 4 nights and 3 days is a different story. I was “let go” because I couldn’t afford a trip I was never prepared for to begin with and because no one was willing to listen to any sense. At no time during my interview was I told a trip would be immediate, or that I was required to go. I was told we may go on one as training. That’s it. Then all of a sudden I was scheduled for 3 trips in a 4 months span, 2 of which were 10 and 12 days at a time. I let them have it before I left. I wasn’t about to go out like the meek female I think they expected. I was never given the chance and to be honest, I’m not sure why they hired me. Oh, which reminds me, the two new people who started this week? Both men. Maybe this is why I was, “let go.” They found 2 penises to fill the void of one vagina.
That is absolutely ridiculous! What kind of company makes you pay for your own lodging for a mandatory trip? It’s terribly hard to let go of a situation where you KNOW you were in the right, but I think just walking away from this one is best.
Avoiding co-worker troubles is almost impossible. Even those of us who work from home or for ourselves will have to deal with someone at some point, and chances are, that someone will be annoying. It’s just the way.
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What kind of company? One that’s been in business for over 25 years and is just now really starting to make money. Only 2 people have been with the company a long time- the owner and the lead help desk guy who’s been there 17 years. Makes one wonder how many other employees have gone through this.
I really was never that mad at the guy who was changing my calls. It was the fact that I would rather a manager or someone who knew what they were doing would come to me and say, hey look you need to do this or this-and actually train me. The other part that bothered me- they went to HIM before coming to me to see what the issue was and I was confronted as if I had done something wrong-when all I did was ask for some guidance.
I have been programming for 13 years and I have seen that same behavior from the men in the industry.
My wife works as a programmer also and she works with a bunch of junior high boys. They really are near 30. They behave like little boys. If they don’t like someone they just don’t talk with them. They don’t share what should be common knowledge within the team. I am amazed at their behavior.
I am sorry it didn’t work out for you. It takes about three jobs to find the one that is right for you. Good luck.
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Isn’t that partially why we’re blogging? To stay away from that kind of behavior, or at least with that as a goal? It will be people like us who rule the world one day, while they’re goofing off, we’re independently pwning them – owning with a “p” yes, it’s serious! Idiots will not last as superiors to anyone in the information age, where their idiocracy is easily exposed and not tolerated.
It isn’t fair, your right. When I went to computer programming college, I was one of TWO girls in the whole school! (Back in 2000)
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Kex: When I worked for the state in the Workers’ Comp division, there were only 3 women programmers and oddly enough, the Unix admin was female-while a majority of the males got away with doing little, the women did the work-and yes almost all of them, even the ones in their 40s acted as if they were 12.
David: Amen to that! I pwned then yesterday when I left with a bang. I will never let anyone-male or female act superior when in reality, they aren’t. The funny thing-even though we were never given remote access from, I can reach one of their servers. In fact, the main server which means I could get into any stores information if I wanted. Yes, they’d catch me because I have a static IP and I really don’t want to go through the trouble of hiding it, but THIS is how these people run the business.
eve: I don’t think in the 8 years since you were in college the scene has changed much. The two women working with me never did the “real technical” work. One of the guys asked me if I knew the difference between a switch and a router and when I answered his question he looked shocked-as if “wow she can read”-duh idiot. I should have asked if he knew the difference and if that’s why he was asking.
The best revenge would be to make enough money online that you wouldn’t “need” that job.
Make something of yourself… and SHOW THEM!
Keep your head up girl! Us women have to stick together.
You don’t want to work in that kind of environment anyway!
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That totally bites!
He seems like he is trying to get rid of his competition! CRUSH HIM!
Does he drink coffee? If so, put some laxative in it, and then when he runs to the rest room. Wait a little while, then rush in there, kick open his stall, and take a picture with your phone.
Then, if he ever messes with you again, tell him you will upload the image to the internet.
Beat him down!
I hope things eventually start getting better for you!
cyberfizzle’s last blog post..China Catching Up.
BTW, Women are the majority in America. And, power is never given, it has to be taken.
You gots to beats hims ups! And, take your place in the world!
*Sings eye of the tiger*
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This is what kills me about companies run by men. And it’s not even just the companies run by men, it’s all companies with superiors in that position. They think they know all, women are just for cooking and cleaning and shit. Woman get the shaft on a lot of things and even I deal with it here at the hospital. Of course, if you want to keep your job, you have to bite your tongue which is wrong. Good for you for telling them how it is before walking proudly out that door.
This is SO stupid. Many of the best computer tech, managers, IT people and programmers I know are women. Not some… MANY. Drawing this line in the sand just serves to cut them off from a valuable resource that I like to call, oh, over half the human population!
I hope this company crashes and burns.
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I’m sorry you met with such SUCKERS in your job.
Keep your head up, CRUSH those insecure penises!
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Man, I went through this as well as a programmer. I was junior and I was given a project from my boss. I did it on my time over the weekend.
I wrote the core but the lead programmer took it and put in the interface.
WTF??? I told him he was totally undermining me and I let him have it.
Sometimes you just got to crack back.
Worked out fine after that.
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Wow.
I’m sorry that it didn’t go all that well for you! It seemed promising in the beginning. However, I’m glad that you let them have it when leaving. I will never understand why some men can be so very juvenile. It’s sad and pathetic. But, on a positive note, it’s a new year, which means new opportunity!!! Take advantage! =)
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Goodness, the company have serious welfare problem. Having to pay for yourself for a training trip is kinda ridiculous.
Either the person doing the training budget is bad at maths or simply the management are a bunch of morons.
I’ll still respect you in the morning, sweetie!
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I have been reading the comments and I have to tell you I have been at my job for 26 years. It is not in this field but let me tell you nothing changes no matter where you work.I am treated like a bubble headed blonde. I have actually had a co worker ask me to put his name on a project but he didn’t want to actually be involved! I have been told I get too excited, when if one of the men I work with throw what I consider a FIT, THAT’S OK because men do that. It is unladylike for me. Yeesh
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At my current job I have to say they do a pretty good job about treating everyone the same. Yup, man or woman they chew you up and spit you out the exact same way.
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That is total bullshit! If this is how they treat their employees and it took them 25 years to make money, then this is a company that you shouldn’t work for anyway.
Keep your chin up! From the few conversations we’ve had, you seem like a very nice person and I believe you will do very well.
I’m guessing you are a programmer. Have you tried freelancing? There are several sites out there looking for programmers (elance, rent a coder, etc..). Perhaps you could also place an ad at the top of your page stating something like “Programmer for Hire”. You have a pretty popular blog on Entrecard, I bet you will get work from your ad.
Are you familiar with PHP? I could use some help customizing a couple of plugins.
I understand that your post wasn’t written looking for handouts, but I would like to help out as much as I can. You only charged me half price for your review, I will pay full price for this. I would also like to prepay for my ad for the next 2 months. I will send my payment via PayPal today.
that really sucks…you know, years ago when I was on welfare and just getting my foot in the church…I was asked to go to Vancouver…
do you know how I got there??? ha ha ha…I didn’t have a problem getting out of the U.S. I only had my welfare card!!!! ha ha ah ah…can you imagine traveling to another country with a welfare card??? Oh my God, I can’t believe I did that…
had a horrible time getting outta there though…was held over by the authorities until they could ascertain that everything I was saying was true…
and I did get to the hotel and they wanted a credit card to cover the “incidentals”… credit card???? OMG!!!
luckily there was a guy from NY, that was
attending the same conference, and he put my room on his credit card.
(thanks for sharing, Andrena)
Sorry bout that experience Beth…yours, that is…
but you didn’t need to be there with those azzholes anyway…
hope you find something better…
sorry for the long post….
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Tell me you were working for Redhat. I’m going to cancel my deals with them if it is the case.
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Can I say, you’re better rid of them? Take what the universe is giving you and know you were meant for something better.
I had a similar circumstance once on a last minute trip where I was expected to foot the bill then turn in my expenses after for reimbursement and it was embarrassing for me to have to say, hey. I can’t. I have no money, no credit cards, I can’t.
Let it go. Remember success is the best revenge.
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