Ive always worked in male dominated areas and always received professionalism and respect to the highest degree. I work hard and I take pride in being one of the only women in these industries and it took me time to build that respect and prove myself.
At Barrick, I was gossiped about and picked on by a group of people by them making up ridiculous stories in terms of my "sexual activities" because I worked late and didn't catch the "popular" bus home or hang out on the weekends. I am a single mother with no child support so my focus has always been on that and moving up in my career so I can better provide for my child.
Not liking me is one thing but when people start to make up things about my character and spreading untrue rumors about what I'm doing at my desk when no one is around except the random men walking in from the field, I have to draw the line.
Then to top it off, I didn't report it to HR, someone else did, which is fine, except the way HR "handled" it. I was still treated as if I had done something wrong when all I did was go in and do my job every day. I felt as if I was supposed to apologize for being focused on daily tasks and not partaking in the popularity contest.
All in all, Im sure Barrick as a whole is a great place to work, but this particular department was like high school and like an episode of "Mean Girls" and the HR department handled way below standard. Their "investigation" only made things worse on me and it left such a bad taste in my mouth that I waved my white flag and put in my 2 week notice after only a few months.
I served in the military for 6 and half years, had men make bets on who could get me in bed first, or make up stories that they had "bedded" me. This has made for some thick skin on my part in most cases its just comical because its never true. But Barrick was the WORST I HAVE EVER experienced by a long shot. It really got to me which never happens.
It really saddens me because I was really interested in staying with Barrick long term. I think Barrick is a good company so I would still hope and probably think this department was the bad apple of the barrel and that's how this hand in my life played out.
C'est la vie!
