Legal Question in Discrimination Law in Pennsylvania
I am a police officer in the state of PA. I started working for my current department about 7 months ago. Everything was going great until about January of 2016. I got called into the Sergeants office and was questioned as to why I do not sign up for overtime. I explained that I already work 6 days a week, because on my day off I have to go my scheduled court hearings. I further explained that I own my own business on the side and I simply rather have time off then the extra money.
He got upset with this comment and stated that the other guys do not like me because I do not work overtime. They feel as if i do not want to be around them since I do not sign up. I said this is absurd since we do not even work together on overtime and I basically stated I do not believe this. This comment got me upset because even though i did not believe it, in the back of my head I felt like maybe some of the guys do not like me.
The Sergeant also stated that "it does not look good" several times. I asked by what he meant by this. He stated that because I am new I should be working overtime. I basically said if it is required I will, if not I am not working overtime. A few days then passed and he called me into his office again. He questioned me about my reports and told me that he disapproved of the reports that I have been writing for the last 7 months. He told me that the Corporal wants them written a certain way and I had to do them over again. I asked why did it take 7 months to tell me that my reports are not good. He told me that is no concern and they have to be fixed, in which I agreed.
A few days later he puts me on field training again after I have been off field training for about 5 months. He says I have to work on time management. I stated I think i am doing fine and he disagreed. He stated that I do no more work then the other guys do. I responded to approx 500 calls within 6 months, when the other guys responded to this many calls or less in 12 months. He made me go back on field training.
Couple days of field training go by and he calls me in his office. He asked how it was going and I stated good. He told me not so good. He said I do not bring the citation holder up when I issue a ticket. I told him that i never did this in seven years as an officer and I was not told about this when I started since I never did it then. He then said I had to ask the training officer a question, so I basically could not make a decision for myself.
About another week passed and I got hurt at work. We had a big snow storm and I slipped in the parking lot. I torn my meniscus and possibly fractured my foot. I have to get surgery soon on my knee. He has called me and told me that he knows that I am working out in my garage and I am able to come to work. The doctor gave me a doctors note stating that I cannot come back to work until my surgery is completed. They got all this information and I am currently on workman's compensations.
He then started to text me and in the texts stated that I have to come to work in order to do paperwork. I told him that I cannot, I am in pain and that the doctor told me I cannot go and you know this. He kept texting me and stating that I have to go.
I did not go to work, but he said I had to go to my court hearings. So i went to my court hearings and was in additional pain since I had to wait around for hours until my hearing was ready. He then states at the station that I have to come in to work and get this "shit" done in regards to paperwork. I told him again I cannot, I am in pain and that the doctor told me that I cannot report to work.
He basically told me that he had a similar injury and could report to work, so I can as well. He then stated he is going to see about me taking a computer home in order to do the paperwork from my house.
I feel this situation has been a nightmare. Ever since I questioned him about the overtime, I have been treated unfairly. To reports being kicked back, sent back on field training, harassed through text messages about going to work when he knows I cant and being told I can work and that he knows I am working in my garage.
I do not know what to do at this point. I did speak with a lawyer in regards to the workman's compensation, but I now feel that i am being treated unfairly on behalf of my employer.
1 Answer from Attorneys
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