For many working people in D.C., their low wage is just one of many problems with their employment. Some people experience verbal, physical, and monetary mistreatment as a routine part of their job. Dangerous work environments – like restaurants infested with rats and construction sites without helmets – are often the only places some people can find work. Work environments can also be unsafe in other ways; many people experience verbal mistreatment because of their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, among other factors. Unfortunately, with limited job prospects, many people are forced to stay at dangerous jobs in order to make enough money to survive.
“Construction without helmets”
Monseur Alli describes working in dangerous environments. Alli details experiences he had working in both restaurants and construction sites.
“I worked over six months without receiving the wage hike”
Jamal Francis describes being let go from his job after voicing a concern about his wages. Francis recounts working for six months without receiving the wage increase he deserved by law.
“He called me a boy”
Leonard Hyater discusses verbal mistreatment on the job. Hyater describes the way he reacts to this type of mistreatment.
“It killed him”
Eric Sheptock describes the deadly effects that unsafe working conditions can have. Sheptock recounts several stories about employees getting injured on the job.
“I wouldn’t refer that job to nobody”
Timothy Witcher recounts the unsafe working conditions at his previous job with Chamberlain Contractors. Witcher talks about the danger of quitting jobs even when the work is unsafe.
“Today I don’t quit a job”
Timothy Witcher recalls quitting a job as a young man and discusses why today he would not quit even a low-level, entry job.