Hostile Work Enviroment?

I am a 45 yr old female, employed as Director of Finance for a small local government in Texas.

Recently the City Manager gave me a pay increase. The Mayor was in opposition and called for a special "executive session" meeting to discuss his rights to give me the pay increase. City attorney informed the Mayor and Council that he was acting within the authority of his office.

Prior to the called "special meeting", the Mayor comfronted me personally to tell me she disapproved of my pay increase and wanted to know why I received it. I told her she needed to speak to the City Manager for the explanation, she persisted and told me she thought I was being treated as a "favored" employee, there were others deserving a pay increase and it wasn't fair because I worked directly under the City Manager. She withheld my paycheck for several hours after she released other paychecks and then refused to sign it. A third person was then called to sign the check.

Since the special meeting, I have been subjected to remarks that have filtered their way to me from the Mayor, such as "we all can't be favored employees", and on and on.

The ultimate humiliation came on Tuesday, December 14th. There was a regular Council Meeting, I had been briefed by the City Manager to take his place at this meeting and in the subsequent "executive session". The Council was notified of this the day before the meeting was to occur. Naturally, I had assumed his role, so therefore his "seat" in Council Chambers. The Mayor requested that I not sit there, but instead had the Police Chief sit in the City Managers seat. During the meeting, the Mayor addressed the Police Chief on the issues I had been briefed on and never addressed me. When the meeting adjorned for the executive session, the Mayor asked the City Attorney if I had to be in the executive session, I did not hear the response from the City Attorney, but the Mayor then walked over to me and asked if I had anything to contribute. I told her I had been briefed by the City Manager on a couple of issues, she then stated (again in a public forum) I guess you can come back then.

The Mayor publicly shunned me before my peers, before my City Council and the spectators in the audience. My peers and city council were both aware that I was intended to take the place of the City Manager.

After the meeting, being the Senior Employee present, I asked the Mayor and Council if they needed anything before I left. The Mayor then swung her arms out and stated "Did everybody hear that...Vicki asked if we needed anything" I was again embarrased and humiliated.

What the Mayor has done is:
1. Publicly pointed me out as being a favored employee and not deserving a pay increase.
2. Sheimpeded me from carrying out the orders of my supervior.
3. She singled me out by repeating "did everybody hear that".
4. I inter-act on a regular basis with City Council during workshops, etc and she has deminished my credibility with Council
5. Mayor and Council has ultimate control over the City Manager, I fear she can force my City Manager to take unnecessary action against me up to and including termination.
6. I feel the Mayor is using her position to harrass me. Knowing full well the work ethics I have and the respect for the chain of command. To respond to her "childish" remarks or any kind of a confrontation would lead me to face disciplinary action for being insubordinate.
7. I have a true fear for my job.

In summary, I have not one disciplinary action taken against me during my tenure at this job (3 years) or the prior 12 years I served in the same capacity at another city. I have excellent audit reviews, etc. The only reason the Mayor has singled me out is a pay issue. She does not like how much I am being compensated for my job, which is not a Mayor/Council issue. This is truly an issue between the City Manager and the City Council and has nothing to do with me. I am unfairly being discriminated against on a wage basis.

Has a hostile work enviorment been created and what are my remedies, if any?

Thank you.

Name : E-Mail : Subject :
Comments:

: I am a 45 yr old female, employed as Director of Finance for a small local government in Texas.

: Recently the City Manager gave me a pay increase.  The Mayor was in opposition and called for a special "executive session" meeting to discuss his rights to give me the pay increase.  City attorney informed the Mayor and Council that he was acting within the authority of his office.

: Prior to the called "special meeting", the Mayor comfronted me personally to tell me she disapproved of my pay increase and wanted to know why I received it.  I told her she needed to speak to the City Manager for the explanation, she persisted and told me she thought I was being treated as a "favored" employee, there were others deserving a pay increase and it wasn't fair because I worked directly under the City Manager.  She withheld my paycheck for several hours after she released other paychecks and then refused to sign it.  A third person was then called to sign the check.

: Since the special meeting, I have been subjected to remarks that have filtered their way to me from the Mayor, such as "we all can't be favored employees", and on and on.

: The ultimate humiliation came on Tuesday, December 14th.  There was a regular Council Meeting, I had been briefed by the City Manager to take his place at this meeting and in the subsequent "executive session".  The Council was notified of this the day before the meeting was to occur.  Naturally, I had assumed his role, so therefore his "seat" in Council Chambers.  The Mayor requested that I not sit there, but instead had the Police Chief sit in the City Managers seat.  During the meeting, the Mayor addressed the Police Chief on the issues I had been briefed on and never addressed me.  When the meeting adjorned for the executive session, the Mayor asked the City Attorney if I had to be in the executive session, I did not hear the response from the City Attorney, but the Mayor then walked over to me and asked if I had anything to contribute.  I told her I had been briefed by the City Manager on a couple of issues, she then stated (again in a public forum) I guess you can come back then.

: The Mayor publicly shunned me before my peers, before my City Council and the spectators in the audience.  My peers and city council were both aware that I was intended to take the place of the City Manager.

: After the meeting, being the Senior Employee present, I asked the Mayor and Council if they needed anything before I left.   The Mayor then swung her arms out and stated "Did everybody hear that...Vicki asked if we needed anything"  I was again embarrased and humiliated.

: What the Mayor has done is:
: 1. Publicly pointed me out as being a favored employee and not deserving a pay increase.
: 2. Sheimpeded me from carrying out the orders of my supervior.
: 3. She singled me out by repeating "did everybody hear that".
: 4. I inter-act on a regular basis with City Council during workshops, etc and she has deminished my credibility with Council
: 5. Mayor and Council has ultimate control over the City Manager, I fear she can force my City Manager to take unnecessary action against me up to and including termination.
: 6. I feel the Mayor is using her position to harrass me.  Knowing full well the work ethics I have and the respect for the chain of command.  To respond to her "childish" remarks or any kind of a confrontation would lead me to face disciplinary action for being insubordinate.
: 7. I have a true fear for my job.

: In summary, I have not one disciplinary action taken against me during my tenure at this job (3 years) or the prior 12 years I served in the same capacity at another city.  I have excellent audit reviews, etc.  The only reason the Mayor has singled me out is a pay issue.  She does not like how much I am being compensated for my job, which is not a Mayor/Council issue.  This is truly an issue between the City Manager and the City Council and has nothing to do with me.  I am unfairly being discriminated against on a wage basis.

: Has a hostile work enviorment been created and what are my remedies, if any?

: Thank you.