Conspiracy to force me out of my position

[stroudta]

Jurisdiction

Virginia

I am a retired Air Force Security police officer and I have been working for NASA for 10 years. Over that time my supervisor has done everything in his power to move me out of my position in favor of my white subordinate. Over the years, my subordinate has failed to accomplish any task assigned, he has created a hostile work environment, and he has done everything in his power to undermine my authority. During that period, my supervisor has overlooked each incident of reported derogatory information. Now my supervisor and team leaders have begun conspiring with one another to have me removed. My team chief provided an inspection report that I proved was not true and my supervisor used that as a vehicle to suspend my access to classified material under the excuse that he is "required" to act on any derogatory information reported to him. He has since placed my subordinate in my position at last. What can I do to prevent him from officially taking my clearance and getting my job back? I have spent 30 years developing my reputation as a Sr. Security Specialist and they have dismantled it in a matter of three months. Are there any processes I can use to receive some sort of monetary payment for what they have stolen from me simply because I am a minority in an all-white security office?

 

[cbg]

When you reported all this to your EEO officer, what did s/he say?

 

[stroudta]

They wanted me to sign an ADR settlement agreement that I would have a weekly meeting to get to know him better and would relinquish all of my right to sue regarding the matter. That was the first time I reported him to EEO. In that incident, he intentionally humiliated me when a HQ inspector briefed him on how well I supported him and he responded: "until I have to fire him". I believe this current suspension is also retaliation for my having the audacity to file the first EEO complaint. EEO stated they couldn't do anything at this point because having my clearance suspended and being escorted out of my office like a criminal was not a derogatory action. I am still receiving a paycheck. I would need to wait until he is successful in taking my clearance before they will get involved.​

 

[adjusterjack]

I suggest you consult an attorney.

 

[mightymoose]

You will need more than what you provided here to support that it is racially motivated, or otherwise illegal discrimination. It does sound suspicious, but proving this sort ofclaim can be difficult.

 

[ElleMD]

Over the years, my subordinate has failed to accomplish any task assigned, he has created a hostile work environment, and he has done everything in his power to undermine my authority.

If this guy reported to you, why did you not do anything to address it as the supervisor? If the guy was not doing his work and causing problems in the office, you should have been acting on this to remove him long ago. Claiming that now, after years of inaction it is somehow the basis for a discrimination complaint doesn't hold water.

 

[stroudta]

Over the years, my subordinate has failed to accomplish any task assigned, he has created a hostile work environment, and he has done everything in his power to undermine my authority.

If this guy reported to you, why did you not do anything to address it as the supervisor? If the guy was not doing his work and causing problems in the office, you should have been acting on this to remove him long ago. Claiming that now, after years of inaction it is somehow the basis for a discrimination complaint doesn't hold water.

I was his team leader; however, I was not allowed to provide any feedback regarding his job performance. My supervisor was also his supervisor. I reported every incident to him as well as my Technical Team Leader. The Technical Team Leader would always respond "Play Nice" with him and he will grow out of the negative behavior. My/his supervisor refused to do anything regarding the matter, despite his assertion that he was required to report any adverse information provided to him. Even after being forced to remove him due to reports of him creating a hostile work environment, he was simply move to another area and promoted 90 days later. I have been reporting his negative and hostile behavior for years.

 

[ElleMD]

Here's the thing, it is extremely difficult to impossible to have a harassment claim against a subordinate. Why? They don't have any authority to materially alter the terms and conditions of your workplace nor take adverse action against you. They can be annoying, but that is about it. Even if you couldn't fire the guy, if he reported to you, it was your responsibility to address the behavior and seek a resolution beyond just reporting misconduct to others. Being brutally honest, anyone in a position of authority who can not manage a problem employee shouldn't be in a position of authority. I don't know what you might have done to address this with the employee directly as you don't mention that at all. I wouldn't have much confidence in a team leader who allowed a problem to fester for years and who simply reported to me a bunch of misdeeds a team leader should be able to address.

You don't indicate on what this guy was doing and how it was specific to your race. Not completing assignments and undermining your authority are race neutral. It might mean someone is not a good employee but unless you could show it was because of your race, you just have two employees who don't like one another. As you were in a position of authority over him, see above.