A Tale with a Spin

Everyone has a story as to how their career got started, or what inspired them to begin in any given field. Be it the path they choose, or perhaps an opportunity knocking on the door. I shall share a story about strength, dignity and self-respect.

My story is one in which I fired myself. In reality, I quit! I had one of the very best jobs, was at the top of my game, a Senior Sales Executive for a local radio station.

The radio station, which I worked for 3 years, will remain anonymous. I was a shining star. The one that most others in my office didn't like, as I was a hard worker. I brought in the most new business, as well as non-traditional revenue for the company, more than any other sales executive. If you are not aware of what non-traditional revenue is, it is money that the radio station receives without having to give many on air time commercials to their clients. It is event or sponsor related revenue. The best kind to have!

To get to the point, I was continually harassed by one client in particular. This was a lucrative client to the radio station. One which spent close to $55,000 a year just with my station. We also had another station which received marketing dollars from this same client, but was handled by a man within our company.

To put this in better perspective, this was only one of my clients, being a top producer at the station I managed over 45 accounts or more throughout the year. The top accounts were considered beer, bars and cars. I also had numerous local accounts that were all just gravy.

Upon first meeting the client, I thought he was a nice guy. I always felt a bit uneasy, anytime I was alone with him, he tended to sit a little to close, or make comments that could be taken two ways. I made mention about the "client" making some suggestive remarks, that made me uncomfortable. They were ignored by my main Station Manager. I was told that these are the good "ole" boys and to take light of their remarks.

I alerted my manager and my sales manager as to the situation building. In fact I had made several comments to my sales manager that the guy gave me the creeps. My Manager told me to "KEEP" him happy "DO WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO" he is a good client. Those exact words were from my Manager. I said, I am "NOT" for sale, what are you implying here? He said, he's a good guy, just go out and have some drinks with him. I did go out for drinks, but again, always brought my trusted friend and sales manager to protect me! He would just "show up" out of the blue, but I had planned it that way. My security blanket.

The "client" began frequently calling me to stop by his office. Always asking for tickets for a concert, rounds of golf, restaurant script, football tickets, concert tickets, you name it, we basically would provide it. The client stepped over the line one day when we were alone, and he suggested having "lunch" at my house. I laughed and said, "I would be happy to meet you for lunch at a restaurant and tried to laugh it off as a joke." He said again, "No, I think it would be fun to have lunch at your place, what do you think, about tomorrow?" I said, "Oh, **** you know that is not going to happen. You better behave yourself!" And I laughed it off. Also saying, isn't your wife home and pregnant?

The client continued to be persistent. One day in mid-May he called and asked for me to get him a room at a luxury resort along with a few rounds of Golf for free the following weekend. I explained, I would try for that weekend, it was season and it might be hard to arrange golf and accommodations. He explained that he was bringing a buddy, and expected me to come along. A snide comment about that situation was also made. I said, you really must be joking. I'll make the call to see about the room however, I can't promise golf. I also added, "please know, with a nervous laugh from me, I certainly am not going." He then threatened me, by saying he would "pull" all his advertisement if I didn't go with him.

No sooner then I got back to my office, I was told by the front desk to see my boss. I had already left a message for my boss, but had not heard back from him. The client had already called, was on the line on speaker phone. I heard him telling my boss to reassign me, as I wasn't being cooperative. He explained that he was having a hard time communicating with me in meetings, and I was not meeting his expectations. I blew my top! I spoke up and said, well I'm not paid to sleep or service my clients in the manner you are requesting. I also said, I don't want you as a client, you're trash. He had NO idea I had walked into the office and heard his remarks. He said, get me off speaker phone to my boss, and the call was quickly finished.

My "General Manager," who was a woman, was out of town. Had she been in town, this would never have taken place. I told my manager what transpired, after the phone conversation he finished. He said, sometimes you just have to make the client happy. I said, I am not PAID to sleep with clients or perform any other service other than my job. Are you implying that I should go along with this client. There was silence. I then stated if you are implying that you have a lot of nerve. I work hard, long hours and have deserved every penny I have made. I am a top producer and this is how you treat me? (Keep in mind my boss earned quite a nice commission from the work I also brought in the doors.) I then asked, so what client do you intend to give me to replace the revenue from this client? He said he had nothing to replace it with at that time. I then said, so you are giving me a salary cut, because I won't "service" a client to his expectations? His answer was yes, his hands were tied. This one client spent approximately $55,000 a year just with my station, which yielded me about $8,250 a year in commission. Between both stations that were run, this client most likely spent well over $100,000 a year with our company.

I did reach my General Manager on vacation, and she asked for me to write a full statement as to what had transpired. She suggested that rather than quitting, to please take off for a weeks vacation to think about what I was going to do. After several phone calls during my "so called week off" I was still not offered a new client to replace the revenue they were taking away. I was still angry that my manager had NOT stuck up for me. He owed me an apology and also they needed to replace the revenue which they had taken away from me. Nor had he ever picked up the phone to apologize to me. I had considered my manager a friend. I was really disappointed to say the least. They had no account to reassign. I was already making over 6 figures. They said I would find another client soon, or they would help, but couldn't promise.

I made up my mind and I said that I was quitting. I didn't even get my allotted vacation which was still owed to me. They also "held" my commission check for almost 6 months. I got a lawyer involved, and finally was paid 3 months of my back commission, for business I had closed. But not for the business which I had closed for the remainder of the whole year.

Would you believe they even turned me down for unemployment. I also had a non-compete and could not work anywhere from Orlando to the Keys within Radio. I even think that I was blocked from working with broadcasting at the time. I was basically screwed, without being screwed.

In essence that's what a girl has to do to keep her dignity and to stand up for what is right.

I could have sought legal counsel to further represent my interest. It was a tricky situation, I was working in a man's world. So I completely walked away. I was kindly offered, by another station, on the same floor, a position within their company. He had a lot of pull and could ease me out of the non-compete. I declined, as I would still have to be in the vicinity of my old manager, who I now despised. As well as the beer distributor.

I hope my story will inspire some other young ladies, women of all ages, to be sure not to let someone at work sexually harass you. It's a huge problem. Document anything that you feel as inappropriate, keep a journal. And alert your boss, or his boss if it is the boss directly. Don't ever feel obligated to compromise your dignity.

This has been somewhat of a catharsis to share. As I've never retold this story. So girls, ladies, women leaders of our generation, don't let men spin their own tale. Take control of your dignity and stand up for yourself.

I am happy to report that the manager was fired, quite soon after I left, from the man who offered me to come and work for him from another station. You see the companies were merging. So in a way justice was served in part of how my manager treated me. However, the pig at the beer distribution center was never called out on his actions. In fact, I wasn't the only one, I found out several years later another girl who actually worked for the beer company, had the same problem with him. Although, she made the mistake of having a relationship with him. And was fired when he was through with her. She never did anything about it, out of disgrace. She was used and abused.

SO my story is stand up for yourself. Don't allow someone to take advantage of you as a women or place you in an uncomfortable situation in which they hold power over you. We all have equal rights and respect works both ways. That's my story, and I'm proud that I walked away, dignity intact.