Let Me Speak
Donation protected
I was hired on June 30th as an assistant to a nonprofit organization by the name of Crossing the Narrow Bridge. The company is a non-profit that puts addicts in rehab. "Founded by addicts for addicts."
(Apparently the FBI is investigating the rehab center industry in Florida because of patient brokering and other illegal business practices. You can read about that here.)
I was originally hired to work as an assistant at $10 an hour. I was told to edit an existing website, but I was called into the office by the CEO because he wanted me to create sites for "branches" of his "self-sustaining non-profit". He told me that I would listen to him and only him. He wanted me to create this elaborate website without providing me with any information about the company. The CEO wanted me to write his biography so he proceeded to tell me that he has been on drugs since he was 13, has overdosed numerous times, and that he continues to take drugs. He told me he was arrested 34 times, ran whorehouses, "massage" spas, underground casinos, and that he destroyed billion dollar companies. When I tried meeting with the CEO to discuss the actual content, he would ramble. He made vague statements and used fake statistics. When I would listen to the audio recordings, I noticed a lot of inconsistencies. He would speak over me and ignore my questions. He would tell me that I should stop interrupting him while encouraging me to ask questions and at one point, he asked me if my boyfriend had ever punched me. He also scolded me for sitting while an older person was standing, mentioning that if he were my father he would have "beaten me raw".
About a week into the project the CEO of the company begins asking me for sexual favors and revealing photos through text messages. He coerced me into believing I would lose my job if I spoke up, so the harassment continued. He promised me a stable job, salary, my own office with the ultimatum of being his "assistant". He "groomed" me as pedophiles often do, and tried to verbally discipline me if I doubted him, calling me disrespectful. He made numerous comments about my clothes and even emailed me to tell me that he was looking up my skirt, and that he would like it if I spread my legs more for him to see. I started wearing pants, and I was told that women are not allowed to wear pants, only skirts.
As I was in the elevator on my way out on Tuesday, July 14, my boss slipped into the elevator with his hands in his pocket. The next thing I knew, his hands were on my shoulders and his mouth was on my neck. He touched my breasts and ran his hands across my body. I froze. I couldn't even tell my boyfriend the same day it happened, and I'm still unable to erase the shame. Earlier that day, while casually discussing the material for the website, he stood directly in front of my face and made thrusting motions suggesting that I touch him. I should have punched him. He continued to pace around me after I rejected his advances, still casually rambling about the company.
It didn't stop there-- he continued to ask me for sexual favors. He repeated to me numerous times that he was firing everyone in the office, that I needed to prove myself to him in order to keep my job. Having worked over 200 hours, I thought I should at least stay until I got paid for my work.
Weeks passed and I finally confronted him about the abuse when he tried to bully me into giving him my password to my web hosting site and I wouldn't give it to him. I told him that once I was paid for the hours I worked, that I would gladly hand over the completed project. He continued to ask me for sexual photos, telling me that he needed to have "something on me" to know that he could "trust me" while implying that those who don't do as he asks always lose.
Even after I confronted him, he didn't stop his behavior. When sitting in front of his desk, he would remove his shoes and try to rub his feet on my legs. When I would move my legs out of the way, his feet would follow and he would continue to touch me. I couldn't tell him to stop without him questioning why I didn't accept his advances. He also gave me the ultimatum that if I wanted to keep my job, I would have to provide him with sexual favors, photos, and "elevator rides" once a week.
He would try to negotiate with me so I would continue to work for him and stay quiet.
My boss is now refusing to pay me for the hours I have worked unless I sign a form waiving my right to report his harassment. We originally agreed on $10 an hour, but I later gave him a proposal for the total cost of the website. We agreed on $2500 once the site was completed, and another $2500 once the site was transferred to their domain. I haven't seen a penny. He has given employees checks that bounce, and he has not only denied me pay, but all of his employees.
He is threatening to have me arrested for extortion if I try to speak up about his abuse. He told me that "girls like me" have tried to report him before and that "it didn't end well for them". I spoke to his lawyer who told me that if I did not sign the waiver, that he would not only withhold my payment, but have me arrested. His lawyer has a huge criminal record that includes felonies for violating probation. He is unlicensed to practice law in the state of Florida, but he continues to represent my boss and believes that I am not aware of his history.
He has yet to present me with any documents. He hasn't paid me for over 200 hours of work, or reimbursed me for transportation costs as promised. I just want justice.
I have spoken to Equal Rights Advocates and they have provided me with a list of attorneys-- all of which I cannot afford. I'm making this page because I'm hopeless. I originally planned to use the payment for my work in order to hire an attorney but I have not been paid what is owed to me.
I nearly maxed two $500 credit cards. My dog needed an operation, which cost me $300 in credit card debt. The rest of my money was literally spent on Uber rides. Each ride cost approximately $20-$25 and I was taking four rides a day sometimes because he would call me into the office for absolutely no reason. I expected to be able to pay all of this back once I was paid what was owed to me, but I never saw any of that money. He said it was to work on the content, but he would just text me as I sat no more than fifteen feet away from him, trying to work on the site. He even said "stop working and that's an order" so I could respond to his unwanted sexual advances faster.
I wish I would have been stronger and confronted him sooner. I shouldn't have put up with it from the beginning. I wish I would have kicked his teeth in when he touched me.
I want girls and women to know that they are not alone in experiencing harassment at work and I want them to know that it is NOT OKAY.
Allowing this man to get away with his actions is only giving him the freedom to do it again.
Please help me get my life back.
(Apparently the FBI is investigating the rehab center industry in Florida because of patient brokering and other illegal business practices. You can read about that here.)
I was originally hired to work as an assistant at $10 an hour. I was told to edit an existing website, but I was called into the office by the CEO because he wanted me to create sites for "branches" of his "self-sustaining non-profit". He told me that I would listen to him and only him. He wanted me to create this elaborate website without providing me with any information about the company. The CEO wanted me to write his biography so he proceeded to tell me that he has been on drugs since he was 13, has overdosed numerous times, and that he continues to take drugs. He told me he was arrested 34 times, ran whorehouses, "massage" spas, underground casinos, and that he destroyed billion dollar companies. When I tried meeting with the CEO to discuss the actual content, he would ramble. He made vague statements and used fake statistics. When I would listen to the audio recordings, I noticed a lot of inconsistencies. He would speak over me and ignore my questions. He would tell me that I should stop interrupting him while encouraging me to ask questions and at one point, he asked me if my boyfriend had ever punched me. He also scolded me for sitting while an older person was standing, mentioning that if he were my father he would have "beaten me raw".
About a week into the project the CEO of the company begins asking me for sexual favors and revealing photos through text messages. He coerced me into believing I would lose my job if I spoke up, so the harassment continued. He promised me a stable job, salary, my own office with the ultimatum of being his "assistant". He "groomed" me as pedophiles often do, and tried to verbally discipline me if I doubted him, calling me disrespectful. He made numerous comments about my clothes and even emailed me to tell me that he was looking up my skirt, and that he would like it if I spread my legs more for him to see. I started wearing pants, and I was told that women are not allowed to wear pants, only skirts.
As I was in the elevator on my way out on Tuesday, July 14, my boss slipped into the elevator with his hands in his pocket. The next thing I knew, his hands were on my shoulders and his mouth was on my neck. He touched my breasts and ran his hands across my body. I froze. I couldn't even tell my boyfriend the same day it happened, and I'm still unable to erase the shame. Earlier that day, while casually discussing the material for the website, he stood directly in front of my face and made thrusting motions suggesting that I touch him. I should have punched him. He continued to pace around me after I rejected his advances, still casually rambling about the company.
It didn't stop there-- he continued to ask me for sexual favors. He repeated to me numerous times that he was firing everyone in the office, that I needed to prove myself to him in order to keep my job. Having worked over 200 hours, I thought I should at least stay until I got paid for my work.
Weeks passed and I finally confronted him about the abuse when he tried to bully me into giving him my password to my web hosting site and I wouldn't give it to him. I told him that once I was paid for the hours I worked, that I would gladly hand over the completed project. He continued to ask me for sexual photos, telling me that he needed to have "something on me" to know that he could "trust me" while implying that those who don't do as he asks always lose.
Even after I confronted him, he didn't stop his behavior. When sitting in front of his desk, he would remove his shoes and try to rub his feet on my legs. When I would move my legs out of the way, his feet would follow and he would continue to touch me. I couldn't tell him to stop without him questioning why I didn't accept his advances. He also gave me the ultimatum that if I wanted to keep my job, I would have to provide him with sexual favors, photos, and "elevator rides" once a week.
He would try to negotiate with me so I would continue to work for him and stay quiet.
My boss is now refusing to pay me for the hours I have worked unless I sign a form waiving my right to report his harassment. We originally agreed on $10 an hour, but I later gave him a proposal for the total cost of the website. We agreed on $2500 once the site was completed, and another $2500 once the site was transferred to their domain. I haven't seen a penny. He has given employees checks that bounce, and he has not only denied me pay, but all of his employees.
He is threatening to have me arrested for extortion if I try to speak up about his abuse. He told me that "girls like me" have tried to report him before and that "it didn't end well for them". I spoke to his lawyer who told me that if I did not sign the waiver, that he would not only withhold my payment, but have me arrested. His lawyer has a huge criminal record that includes felonies for violating probation. He is unlicensed to practice law in the state of Florida, but he continues to represent my boss and believes that I am not aware of his history.
He has yet to present me with any documents. He hasn't paid me for over 200 hours of work, or reimbursed me for transportation costs as promised. I just want justice.
I have spoken to Equal Rights Advocates and they have provided me with a list of attorneys-- all of which I cannot afford. I'm making this page because I'm hopeless. I originally planned to use the payment for my work in order to hire an attorney but I have not been paid what is owed to me.
I nearly maxed two $500 credit cards. My dog needed an operation, which cost me $300 in credit card debt. The rest of my money was literally spent on Uber rides. Each ride cost approximately $20-$25 and I was taking four rides a day sometimes because he would call me into the office for absolutely no reason. I expected to be able to pay all of this back once I was paid what was owed to me, but I never saw any of that money. He said it was to work on the content, but he would just text me as I sat no more than fifteen feet away from him, trying to work on the site. He even said "stop working and that's an order" so I could respond to his unwanted sexual advances faster.
I wish I would have been stronger and confronted him sooner. I shouldn't have put up with it from the beginning. I wish I would have kicked his teeth in when he touched me.
I want girls and women to know that they are not alone in experiencing harassment at work and I want them to know that it is NOT OKAY.
Allowing this man to get away with his actions is only giving him the freedom to do it again.
Please help me get my life back.
Organizer
Bambi Elizabeth
Organizer
Opa-locka, FL
