glassceiling1
New Member
Hi,
I work for an internet-based company that is based in SLC, UT. I live in Ohio. I have been with this company for 5 years and have never gotten anything but stellar employee appraisals. I have successfully managed projects, written curriculum...anything I was ever asked to take lead on, I took charge and did a good job. The original owner was a female, and there were many lead roles for females at the company when I first started. They sold out, and executive management is exclusively male, with one exception, one VP. The head of HR is also a woman, but that seems to be a traditional thing. Out of approximately 90 employees at the company, about 80 are Mormon.
Since the all-male group took over executive management (CEO is an important fixture in that region in the Mormon church), no promotions have been given to women, but about 9 or 10 promotions have been given to men...particularly Mormon men. There were women on staff who were far more qualified for most of these positions than the men who were promoted. In fact, when the previous manager of my department left (who was female and was basically driven out), the project was dumped in my lap. They had a tight deadline, and I worked 15-20 hours a day at some points to make sure it got out on time, in addition to my normal duties. The COO would call me frequently to praise me, flew me to Utah for a few meetings...everything was wonderful. They even gave me an 11k raise during the last 3 months of 2009. The previous manager of my department had warned me that they were using me to roll out the new program and then they would be through with me, but I disregarded her warning and felt that she had to be wrong...that always volunteering for nearly impossible tasks and completing them successfully would get me somewhere in the company.
I was flown out to Utah in January or so, and I was really excited because I knew I was about to get the promotion I had worked so hard toward. I had a meeting with the COO and the VP and was told that a younger male who happened to be Mormon...no experience in the industry really, only worked in the graphics department at the company, and had been there about a year less than I had...was going to be my new boss. Needless to say, I was shocked. I had to train my new boss, because he knew nothing about what our department did.
Then, subsequently, within the next month or two, 4 or 5 more males were promoted, including one who is 24 and has been with the company for a year. I also had to teach him some of the industry basics, and I have had to edit programs behind him and have found quite a bit of plagiarism, which was basically kept quiet from upper management because he is my own boss' best friend. My role has also been limited to strictly certain job duties, so it appears that I have been "put out to pasture." I still have no idea why! No one can give me any answers the few times I have very politely and professionally attempted to address it.
Others in the company have commented to me that they notice that no women ever get promoted, and even one Mormon related to me that they often let their beliefs spill over into the workplace, and that women traditionally aren't given leadership roles. One Mormon coworker said, "Oh, that's just how the guys are...only Mormon men are allowed to give "blessings" so, naturally, they think they should be the leaders."
Since I have worked remotely for the company for 4 years, and other members of management in the past have worked remotely, that apparently is not the issue. When I finally asked the COO last month what was going on, because, honestly, I was feeling a little "passed over," he very firmly told me that I should be happy they gave me such a big raise, and that that was their way of expressing their appreciation to me. He also had the nerve to ask me, "Why is it so important to you to be in a management position anyway?" He knows I am almost finished with my MBA...and the only other employees of the company with MBAs are 3 of the male executives. He further went on to tell me that these men that he promoted have a certain "skill set" the company is looking for, and that maybe one day down the road, the right thing will come along and they may or may not promote me to a leadership role. (LOL!)
I am terribly frustrated because I have followed my career path, continued my education, worked SO hard to get somewhere, yet I feel that I am not being treated fairly because I am not Mormon, but especially because I am a woman..and because of their strong religious beliefs, I may not ever get anywhere. There is no diversity here (2 Hispanic employees - there used to be 1 African-American employee, but I don't think she is even with the company anymore).
I am at a loss for what to do, or if I can even do anything. Right now, I am just keeping my head down, getting my work done just as I was before the "big blow," and maintaining a positive attitude in all work communications...yet, I feel so stressed because I and all of the other hard-working women here can't get promoted because we don't have the right equipment and/or right religious beliefs.
Would someone give me some advice, please? After 4 years of giving this company everything I have, I am desperately seeking other employment. As a result of all this, for the past 6 months, my blood pressure has gone up, and I find it so stressful just to log in for work, when I used to love my job.
I would appreciate any input anyone has to offer! Thanks so much!
glassceiling1
I work for an internet-based company that is based in SLC, UT. I live in Ohio. I have been with this company for 5 years and have never gotten anything but stellar employee appraisals. I have successfully managed projects, written curriculum...anything I was ever asked to take lead on, I took charge and did a good job. The original owner was a female, and there were many lead roles for females at the company when I first started. They sold out, and executive management is exclusively male, with one exception, one VP. The head of HR is also a woman, but that seems to be a traditional thing. Out of approximately 90 employees at the company, about 80 are Mormon.
Since the all-male group took over executive management (CEO is an important fixture in that region in the Mormon church), no promotions have been given to women, but about 9 or 10 promotions have been given to men...particularly Mormon men. There were women on staff who were far more qualified for most of these positions than the men who were promoted. In fact, when the previous manager of my department left (who was female and was basically driven out), the project was dumped in my lap. They had a tight deadline, and I worked 15-20 hours a day at some points to make sure it got out on time, in addition to my normal duties. The COO would call me frequently to praise me, flew me to Utah for a few meetings...everything was wonderful. They even gave me an 11k raise during the last 3 months of 2009. The previous manager of my department had warned me that they were using me to roll out the new program and then they would be through with me, but I disregarded her warning and felt that she had to be wrong...that always volunteering for nearly impossible tasks and completing them successfully would get me somewhere in the company.
I was flown out to Utah in January or so, and I was really excited because I knew I was about to get the promotion I had worked so hard toward. I had a meeting with the COO and the VP and was told that a younger male who happened to be Mormon...no experience in the industry really, only worked in the graphics department at the company, and had been there about a year less than I had...was going to be my new boss. Needless to say, I was shocked. I had to train my new boss, because he knew nothing about what our department did.
Then, subsequently, within the next month or two, 4 or 5 more males were promoted, including one who is 24 and has been with the company for a year. I also had to teach him some of the industry basics, and I have had to edit programs behind him and have found quite a bit of plagiarism, which was basically kept quiet from upper management because he is my own boss' best friend. My role has also been limited to strictly certain job duties, so it appears that I have been "put out to pasture." I still have no idea why! No one can give me any answers the few times I have very politely and professionally attempted to address it.
Others in the company have commented to me that they notice that no women ever get promoted, and even one Mormon related to me that they often let their beliefs spill over into the workplace, and that women traditionally aren't given leadership roles. One Mormon coworker said, "Oh, that's just how the guys are...only Mormon men are allowed to give "blessings" so, naturally, they think they should be the leaders."
Since I have worked remotely for the company for 4 years, and other members of management in the past have worked remotely, that apparently is not the issue. When I finally asked the COO last month what was going on, because, honestly, I was feeling a little "passed over," he very firmly told me that I should be happy they gave me such a big raise, and that that was their way of expressing their appreciation to me. He also had the nerve to ask me, "Why is it so important to you to be in a management position anyway?" He knows I am almost finished with my MBA...and the only other employees of the company with MBAs are 3 of the male executives. He further went on to tell me that these men that he promoted have a certain "skill set" the company is looking for, and that maybe one day down the road, the right thing will come along and they may or may not promote me to a leadership role. (LOL!)
I am terribly frustrated because I have followed my career path, continued my education, worked SO hard to get somewhere, yet I feel that I am not being treated fairly because I am not Mormon, but especially because I am a woman..and because of their strong religious beliefs, I may not ever get anywhere. There is no diversity here (2 Hispanic employees - there used to be 1 African-American employee, but I don't think she is even with the company anymore).
I am at a loss for what to do, or if I can even do anything. Right now, I am just keeping my head down, getting my work done just as I was before the "big blow," and maintaining a positive attitude in all work communications...yet, I feel so stressed because I and all of the other hard-working women here can't get promoted because we don't have the right equipment and/or right religious beliefs.
Would someone give me some advice, please? After 4 years of giving this company everything I have, I am desperately seeking other employment. As a result of all this, for the past 6 months, my blood pressure has gone up, and I find it so stressful just to log in for work, when I used to love my job.
I would appreciate any input anyone has to offer! Thanks so much!
glassceiling1
