cinderella1952
New Member
I'm new to the forum. I was employed as an office manager for a Chiropractor that is in private practice. He was impossible to work for. He is a Scientologist and signed me and paid for a Communication Course at the Church of Scientology. I felt obligated to go because he was my boss and signed my check. I figured, "how bad can it be?"
Initially, I assumed the class would last a couple hours and be more of a lecture/power point demonstration. Upon going to the class my first day, I learned it was a 30 hour course and it was recommended I complete the class in three months. The first day of class, my boss met me down at the "church". I tried to go as often as possible to get the class over. In the beginning I was going 2-3 days a week and each "drill" would last approximately 3 hours. I HATED it! I was using my own gas, not being reimbursed for time or travel.
When I was going through the course drills, I was not very compliant. One of the drills involved another "student" basically harass me, call me names, make fun of my family, etc. and I had to remain "poker face" or I would fail the drill and have to start over. My daughters were called sluts, my mother-in-law was called a bitch and I was called the "c" word. I am not lying!!!!!!
After I started going to the classes, my boss's behavior got stranger and stranger to the point one day he stared at me for hours during my workday, making me very uncomfortable. He criticized everything I was doing, up to and including where I had personal items on my desk. I would be blamed if patients cancelled their appointment and it was my responsibility to find other patients to take their place.
If the "atmosphere" at work wasn't on "key" he would get out a book by L. Ron Hubbard and read passages from the book. One day he made me so uncomfortable by staring at me I ended up crying. When he was I was crying he said, "It doesn't feel good does it?" He proceeded to tell me now I know what it feels like and it was my duty to get more patients in and I was basically ruining his business.
I was so upset my husband rushed me to urgent care. My blood pressure was through the roof so the doctor immediately put me on stress leave for 4 weeks. I took the note to the office, along with my key to the office building and left it on his desk on Thursday which is day the office is closed. He was not at work that day.
My doctor requested I seek mental health professional and I started going to weekly sessions because of stress, anxiety, panic attacks and nightmares. The last contact I had with my previous employer is when he emailed me wanting my address so he could send me my W-2.
My doctor recently released me back to work, my job is no longer available and there are no other positions available at the chiroprator's office. I'm sure it wouldn't be a good idea if I returned anyway. I filed for unemployment and it was denied; although I can appeal. I have documentation that I prepared during the time the Chiropractor sent me to Scientology classes and dates and times when his behavior was bizarre and the things he did to me. I have also requested all my health records, including medical and mental health.
Bottom line, what do you think my chances are of winning the appeal process and collecting unemployment? I have been diligently looking for work since released from disability and have gone on several job interviews.
I apologize for the lengthiness of my post and hope someone can help.
Thank you
Initially, I assumed the class would last a couple hours and be more of a lecture/power point demonstration. Upon going to the class my first day, I learned it was a 30 hour course and it was recommended I complete the class in three months. The first day of class, my boss met me down at the "church". I tried to go as often as possible to get the class over. In the beginning I was going 2-3 days a week and each "drill" would last approximately 3 hours. I HATED it! I was using my own gas, not being reimbursed for time or travel.
When I was going through the course drills, I was not very compliant. One of the drills involved another "student" basically harass me, call me names, make fun of my family, etc. and I had to remain "poker face" or I would fail the drill and have to start over. My daughters were called sluts, my mother-in-law was called a bitch and I was called the "c" word. I am not lying!!!!!!
After I started going to the classes, my boss's behavior got stranger and stranger to the point one day he stared at me for hours during my workday, making me very uncomfortable. He criticized everything I was doing, up to and including where I had personal items on my desk. I would be blamed if patients cancelled their appointment and it was my responsibility to find other patients to take their place.
If the "atmosphere" at work wasn't on "key" he would get out a book by L. Ron Hubbard and read passages from the book. One day he made me so uncomfortable by staring at me I ended up crying. When he was I was crying he said, "It doesn't feel good does it?" He proceeded to tell me now I know what it feels like and it was my duty to get more patients in and I was basically ruining his business.
I was so upset my husband rushed me to urgent care. My blood pressure was through the roof so the doctor immediately put me on stress leave for 4 weeks. I took the note to the office, along with my key to the office building and left it on his desk on Thursday which is day the office is closed. He was not at work that day.
My doctor requested I seek mental health professional and I started going to weekly sessions because of stress, anxiety, panic attacks and nightmares. The last contact I had with my previous employer is when he emailed me wanting my address so he could send me my W-2.
My doctor recently released me back to work, my job is no longer available and there are no other positions available at the chiroprator's office. I'm sure it wouldn't be a good idea if I returned anyway. I filed for unemployment and it was denied; although I can appeal. I have documentation that I prepared during the time the Chiropractor sent me to Scientology classes and dates and times when his behavior was bizarre and the things he did to me. I have also requested all my health records, including medical and mental health.
Bottom line, what do you think my chances are of winning the appeal process and collecting unemployment? I have been diligently looking for work since released from disability and have gone on several job interviews.
I apologize for the lengthiness of my post and hope someone can help.
Thank you