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My Job Has Bed Bugs

Posted: 24th October 2015 14:55

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Cactuar
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I was first bitten on the job three weeks ago, I didn't see the bug but looking at the bites you could tell what they are. I work in a Call Center where we've been dealing with this for the entire summer. We have been telling management and even bringing the bugs we caught to them but they refused to do anything about it till we called OSHA.

Then they finally started to send us to their doctor once we got bit and sent home.

The last time I was at work I got bit again and didn't want to say anything as one of the girls got fired for complaining and going to our employers doctor as her did not fully clear her seeing her bites were numerous and could get infected and she got fired and it was not considered excused.

So than I saw a bed bug crawling, I couldn't move but I was able to raise my phone and take a picture. I showed it to my supervisor she told me to move to another cubical and I tried not to make a big deal and be quiet about it. I was literally frozen for 15 minutes and couldn't move standing.

All of a sudden I ask Team Lead where the manager was, she tells me she is in an interview. I was beyond upset and couldn't speak in sentences as I was upset. I went to management and they treated me as if I was infected which I was and had to go through a walk of shame it seems.

I got new clothes and sent back to their doctor.

Our HR after we ALL called OSHA and tried to make a report and they found out came on our call center floor and blasted us for going there and how this situation is, "our fault"....

I really wish I could quit my job

This post has been edited by His Shadow on 24th October 2015 14:57

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Post #209752
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Posted: 24th October 2015 16:25

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Maniacal Clown
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Oh gosh this sounds horrifying.

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Post #209753
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Posted: 26th October 2015 18:24

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That's an entirely unsafe situation. If you bring those home with you you'll be facing a heavy detox of your home and a lot of money out of your pocket. I'm very sorry that you can't get out of this situation. I've had to put up with insect infestations in a workplace before but those were only water bugs, roaches, and crickets; nothing this bad. Poor or not, I'd have walked out on the spot.

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Post #209755
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Posted: 27th October 2015 21:54

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Cactuar
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Quote (His Shadow @ 24th October 2015 09:55)
I was first bitten on the job three weeks ago, I didn't see the bug but looking at the bites you could tell what they are. I work in a Call Center where we've been dealing with this for the entire summer. We have been telling management and even bringing the bugs we caught to them but they refused to do anything about it till we called OSHA.

Then they finally started to send us to their doctor once we got bit and sent home.

The last time I was at work I got bit again and didn't want to say anything as one of the girls got fired for complaining and going to our employers doctor as her did not fully clear her seeing her bites were numerous and could get infected and she got fired and it was not considered excused.

So than I saw a bed bug crawling, I couldn't move but I was able to raise my phone and take a picture. I showed it to my supervisor she told me to move to another cubical and I tried not to make a big deal and be quiet about it. I was literally frozen for 15 minutes and couldn't move standing.

All of a sudden I ask Team Lead where the manager was, she tells me she is in an interview. I was beyond upset and couldn't speak in sentences as I was upset. I went to management and they treated me as if I was infected which I was and had to go through a walk of shame it seems.

I got new clothes and sent back to their doctor.

Our HR after we ALL called OSHA and tried to make a report and they found out came on our call center floor and blasted us for going there and how this situation is, "our fault"....

I really wish I could quit my job

I don't understand how a company can get away with this.

Its bad enough that they make you think you get the job during your interview, say they will call you back by the end of the week, don't and you never hear from them again while they ignore phone calls and e-mails asking for a response. Let alone when you actually find a job, how mistreated we are as workers.

But I've never heard anything like this and I've worked in some pretty bad environments.

And honestly, these stories are becoming more common in a society that is completely unaware of the fascist state we live in. Under no circumstances is your work environment acceptable and the violations are clearly off the charts yet you are threatened with being fired, in fear of quitting your job and blamed for the situation by management that has you under constant threat to your health. Unbelievable.

I don't know what to tell you because I've tried looking into whistle-blowing, better business bureau, department of labor...and all of them have a ridiculous list of stipulations for actually reporting any kind of violation or danger. Not to mention I've had a department of labor representative bring up slander against me by a company I had worked for, and made completely baseless, uncalled for accusations having nothing to do with the situation he and I were discussing (it was over unemployment).

We are completely dependent on a system that traumatizes and torments its work force, whether we realize it or not, whether we like our jobs or not and nothing will change until we learn how to unify and demand changes. WE are expendable in the system under it's current state. We are pieces of shit that can be flushed and replaced with other pieces of shit and that's the honest truth.

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Post #209758
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Posted: 12th November 2015 05:07

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So two weeks later I saw another bed bug after working ten hours that day they made me change my clothes even though I saw it and reported it and wasn't bitten. I was beyond upset. I had run into someone who recognized me from another call center I used to work with.

I try to have a good reputation in professional work environments so someone noticed me and recommended applying to this other place. Needless to say I applied and they called me back the next day and I got the job.

After coming home every day steaming my clothes before entry to the house, than taking everything off throwing it in the dryer and than getting sprayed by 91% alcohol so I don't bring anything back in with me I am glad to say I am out of there

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Posted: 12th November 2015 23:44

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Quote (His Shadow @ 12th November 2015 00:07)
So two weeks later I saw another bed bug after working ten hours that day they made me change my clothes even though I saw it and reported it and wasn't bitten. I was beyond upset. I had run into someone who recognized me from another call center I used to work with.

I try to have a good reputation in professional work environments so someone noticed me and recommended applying to this other place. Needless to say I applied and they called me back the next day and I got the job.

After coming home every day steaming my clothes before entry to the house, than taking everything off throwing it in the dryer and than getting sprayed by 91% alcohol so I don't bring anything back in with me I am glad to say I am out of there

Excellent news. Good for you. I hope it works out!

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