When I was starting to work in the ministry, I always arrived early and shared with the new colleagues, to get to know each other and in turn to adapt, more comfortably, to the new work environment. Normally, the workers of the area, we met on the terrace, there we had coffee and talked at the tables of the cafeteria.
In those morning meetings, I saw that there were groups of people who met, that is, although everyone treated each other and greeted each other with affection, closed groups of friends had formed, who always sat down and shared together. And in those groups, occasionally, a person entered who shared with them, without being a permanent member.
I was one of those people, who shared with all the groups, one day I would sit with one group, another day with another, and that way I would get to know all the members of the communication area. And an interesting situation, is that among the different groups, there was one that was different. There were only two women in that group, and almost no one talked to them.
In addition, at work, almost no one communicated with them, they were only treated with closeness and some confidence, to the other workers, when we were in areas far from the office. But inside the ministry facilities, they were a kind of taboo people, with whom no one wanted to have contact openly.
—Good morning, girls, I can sit with you, I am new to the ministry, and I want to meet all the colleagues from the communication area. My name is Rodrigo. — I told the two companions who were sitting at the table.
—Yes, of course, you can sit with us, I'm Marta and she's Daniela. — Marta answered me.
That morning, it's coffee and the conversation with the girls was very pleasant, and I really felt very comfortable chatting and sharing with them. They are nice, cheerful people, and from what I saw, and we talked, they have a good general culture, and they both like chess. And I also think they liked me very much.
But, when I was sitting with them at the table, I could see that the rest of the colleagues were constantly looking at us. And they were also looking at the table, where they were sitting, the area manager, the coordinator and the supervisor.
After the pleasant morning meeting, we all entered our work area. Around mid-morning, the coordinator asked me to come to his office. When I got up from my desk to go to the coordinator, everyone turned to see me. And when I passed in front of Marta's desk, she smiled at me, but there was some sadness on her face.
—Good morning, Mr. Hernandez. I'm here, tell me how I can help you. — I said as I knocked on his office door.
—Come in and sit down, Rodrigo. How are you doing at work? — he commented to start the conversation.
The coordinator, was an active military of the army. And he had the bad habit of treating the workers as if they were military. In addition, there were some workers, who were boot lickers, and they called Mr. Hernández “My Captain” so he felt as if he were in the army, in command of a group of soldiers.
And this situation of placing active military personnel in leadership positions is something that has been happening in the country since the political changes began with Chávez, which seems to me to be a very bad practice. Since, I personally think, that the military should be in their barracks and the civilians in their natural environment.
—I'm doing really well at work. And besides, I'm getting to know all the staff in the area. —answer me.
—I saw that you sat down to breakfast with those women, Marta and Daniela. — yes, I sat down for a coffee with them, and they seem like very nice people.
—They're not nice at all. They are counter-revolutionary. They refused to leave when ordered, and the only reason they're both still here is because the law doesn't allow me to fire them. But I gave the order that no worker should sit or talk to them. It was understood. — He told me, Hernandez, in an authoritative voice.
—In principle, two things, Mr. Hernández. No one tells me who I should deal with, who I should talk to, or how I should act with a person; that's a personal decision. And if it provokes me, to sit down for coffee with Marta and Daniela, or with anyone else, I do it, and I don't have to explain myself to anyone for that.
The second thing is that I do not go to marches, nor do I proselytize politically, since I am a professional and I came to the ministry to work and not to do politics. Politics and marches are made by political parties and their supporters. — I answered firmly.
—So you are also uplifted and refuse to take orders. Here, you do what I say and when I say. I am honoured for my rank. And from now on, he calls me "My Captain". — Hernandez shouted loudly.
—Comrade, you were wrong and very wrong. First, I don't pay homage to anyone. Secondly, you are not my captain, since I have not bought it. Thirdly, if you want me to call you captain, you will first have to start addressing me, as Licenciado López. Fourth, the only orders I receive from any authority in this ministry are regarding my work in the area of communication, of which you know nothing, and that is why there is a supervisor in the area. And fifth, if he tries to do any harassment or mistreatment at work, I will report it to the Ministry of labour and the National Institute of Prevention, Occupational Health and Safety. — I answered with a firm and challenging voice.
—Get out of my office immediately. — He shouted hysterically as I retreated.
From that day on, there were three of us, the ones who sat apart from everyone else. However, when I arrived, every morning, I passed by the different groups, greeting and saying good morning, including the table where the management team was sitting.
After a few days, Marta and Daniela, began to do the same. And that provoked a rapprochement with the comrades, who, if it is true, remained bent to the exclusion provision imposed by the military coordinator, now they were more friendly and accessible to me and the girls.
This situation of mistreatment and exclusion, which was quite uncomfortable, ended when, at a work party, the captain's skeletons came out of the closet. The situation arose when Mr. Hernández, being quite drunk, left the meeting on the terrace to smoke, with one of the attendees. And they started walking to the back of the terrace, where they could not be seen, since there was no visibility to the area, and besides there were the air conditioning machines.
And there, Mr. Captain Hernandez, hugged and kissed with his assistant, a rather young boy, named Mauricio. But they didn't realize that, when they kissed, they did it in front of Daniela. She took a picture of them with her cell phone.
About three weeks after the party, there was a call for a march. And Mr. Hernandez, summoned all the staff through a verbal order. And then, she called Marta, Daniela and me for a meeting in her office.
In the office he threatened us, he said he was going to reprimand us, that he was going to take files and a lot of other threats and nonsense, if we did not attend the march.
After Hernandez, he verbally abused us and threatened us. Daniela took the floor, told him what she knew about his relationship with her assistant and told him that, although she had nothing against homosexuals, she was going to show the photo she had of him kissing with his assistant to everyone, if I kept bothering and threatening us.
Daniela told him that the photo was well stored on the network, and then she took out her cell phone, showed the photo to Hernández, showed it to Marta and then showed it to me. I remained silent and somewhat impressed, since I would never have imagined that Mr. Hernández, who gave her the macho and vernacular, liked men. Marta, just said: "With good reason, this gentleman's hysterical attacks."
After that, the three of us left the office, without saying anything. And to our surprise, the day after the march, we learned that Mr. Hernández had handed in his resignation.
I imagine that, from that moment on, he felt a terrible fear that Daniela would get upset, and take the skeleton out of the closet, making him look ashamed in front of everyone.
That's how it ended, the exclusion and abuse, that there was against a group of people, because of prejudices and political harassment.
Thanks for reading me.
Cuando yo, estaba empezando a trabajar en el ministerio, siempre llegaba temprano y compartía con los nuevos compañeros, para ir conociéndonos y a su vez ir adaptándome, más cómodamente, al nuevo ambiente de trabajo. Normalmente, los trabajadores del área, nos reuníamos en la terraza, ahí tomábamos café y conversábamos en las mesas de la cafetería.
En esos encuentros matutinos, yo veía que había grupos de personas que se reunían, es decir, aunque todo el mundo se trataba y se saludaba con cariño, se habían formado grupos cerrados de amigos, que siempre se sentaban y compartían juntos. Y en esos grupos, ocasionalmente, ingresaba una persona que compartía con ellos, sin ser un miembro permanente.
Yo era una de esas personas, que compartía con todos los grupos. Un día me sentaba con un grupo, otro día con otro, y así iba conociendo a todos los miembros del área de comunicación. Y una situación interesante, es que entre los diferentes grupos, había uno que era diferente. En ese grupo, solo había dos mujeres, y casi nadie hablaba con ellas.
Además, en el trabajo, casi nadie se comunicaba con ellas, solo las trataban con cercanía y algo de confianza, los demás trabajadores, cuando estábamos en áreas lejanas a la oficina. Pero dentro de las instalaciones del ministerio, ellas eran una suerte de personas tabú, con las que nadie quería tener contacto abiertamente.
—Buenos días, muchachas, puedo sentarme con ustedes, soy nuevo en el ministerio, y quiero conocer a todos los compañeros del área de comunicación. Mi nombre es Rodrigo. —Le comenté a las dos compañeras que estaban sentadas en la mesa.
—Sí, claro, puedes sentarte con nosotras, yo soy Marta y ella es Daniela. — me contestó Marta.
Esa mañana, es café y la conversación con las muchachas fue muy agradable, y de verdad me sentí muy cómodo conversando y compartiendo con ellas. Ellas son personas agradables, alegres, y por lo que vi y conversamos, tienen una buena cultura general, y a ambas les gusta el ajedrez. Y también pienso que les caí muy bien a ellas.
Pero, cuando estaba sentado con ellas en la mesa, si pude ver que el resto de los compañeros, nos miraba de manera constante. Y también miraban a la mesa, donde se sentaban, el gerente del área, el coordinador y el supervisor.
Después del agradable encuentro matutino, todos ingresamos a nuestra área de trabajo. Más o menos a media mañana, el coordinador me pidió que fuese a su oficina. Al levantarme de mi escritorio para ir a ver al coordinador, todo el mundo volteó a verme. Y cuando pasé frente al escritorio de Marta, ella me sonrió, pero había algo de tristeza en su cara.
—Buenos días, señor Hernández. Aquí estoy, dígame en qué puedo ayudarle. — dije al tocar la puerta de su oficina.
—Pasa y siéntate, Rodrigo. ¿Cómo te va en el trabajo? — comentó para iniciar la conversación.
El coordinador, era un militar activo del ejército. Y tenía la mala maña, de tratar a los trabajadores como si fueran militares. Además, había unos trabajadores, que eran unos lamebotas, y llamaban al señor Hernández “Mi Capitán”, por lo que él se sentía como si estuviese en el ejército, al mando de un grupo de soldados.
Y esa situación de colocar militares activos, en puestos de dirección, es algo que viene pasando en el país desde que se iniciaron los cambios políticos con Chávez, lo que me parece una muy mala práctica. Ya que en lo personal pienso, que los militares deben estar en sus cuarteles y los civiles en su ambiente natural.
—Me va muy bien en el trabajo. Y además, estoy conociendo a todo el personal del área. —contesté.
—Vi que te sentaste a desayunar con esas mujeres, Marta y Daniela. — sí, me senté a tomar un café con ellas y me parecen personas muy agradables.
—No son nada agradables. Son contrarrevolucionarias. Ellas se negaron a marchar cuando se les ordenó, y la única razón por la que ambas siguen aquí, es porque la ley no me permite despedirlas. Pero di la orden, de que ningún trabajador, se siente o hable con ellas. Se entendió. — Me dijo, Hernández, con voz autoritaria.
—En principio, dos cosas, señor Hernández. A mí nadie me dice a quién debo tratar, con quién hablo, o cómo debo actuar con una persona; esa es una decisión personal. Y si me provoca, sentarme a tomar café con Marta y Daniela, o con cualquier otra persona, lo hago, y no tengo que darle explicaciones a nadie por eso.
Lo segundo, es que yo no voy a marchas, ni hago proselitismo político, ya que soy un profesional y vine al ministerio a trabajar y no para hacer política. La política y las marchas, las hacen los partidos políticos y sus seguidores. —contesté de manera firme.
—Así que tú también eres alzado y te niegas a recibir órdenes. Aquí se hace lo que yo digo y cuando yo digo. A mí se me rinde pleitesía por mi rango. Y a partir de ahora, me dice “Mi Capitán”. — Gritó con fuerza Hernández.
—Compañero, usted se equivocó y bien equivocado. Primero, yo no le rindo pleitesía a nadie. Segundo, usted no es mi capitán, ya que yo no lo he comprado. Tercero, si usted quiere que le llame capitán, primero tendrá que empezar a dirigirse a mí, como Licenciado López. Cuarto, las únicas órdenes que yo recibo de alguna autoridad en este ministerio, son en lo referente a mi trabajo en el área de comunicación, de la cual usted no sabe nada, y para eso está un supervisor en el área. Y quinto, si trata de hacer algún acoso o maltrato laboral, lo denunciaré en el ministerio del trabajo y en el Instituto Nacional de Prevención, Salud y Seguridad Laborales. —contesté con voz firme y retadora.
—Salga de mi oficina de inmediato. — Gritó de manera histérica mientras me retiraba.
A partir de ese día, éramos tres personas, las que nos sentábamos aparte de todo el mundo. Sin embargo, yo, al llegar, cada mañana, pasaba por los diferentes grupos, saludando y dando los buenos días, incluyendo la mesa donde se sentaba el equipo de dirección.
Después de unos días, Marta y Daniela, comenzaron a hacer lo mismo. Y eso provocó un acercamiento con los compañeros, que si es cierto se mantenían doblegados ante la disposición de exclusión impuesta por el coordinador militar, ahora se mostraban más amables y accesibles conmigo y las muchachas.
Esta situación de maltrato y exclusión, la cual era bastante incómoda, se acabó cuando, en una fiesta laboral, se le salieron los esqueletos del armario al capitán. La situación se dio, cuando el señor Hernández, estando bastante borracho, salió de la reunión a la terraza para fumar, con uno de los asistentes. Y ellos se pusieron a caminar hasta la parte de atrás de la terraza, donde no se les podía ver, ya que no había visibilidad hacia el área, y además estaban las máquinas de los aires acondicionados.
Y ahí, el señor capitán Hernández, se abrazó y se dio un beso con su asistente, un muchacho bastante joven, llamado Mauricio. Pero no se dieron cuenta de que, al besarse, lo hicieron delante de Daniela. La cual les tomó una foto con su celular.
Como a las tres semanas de la fiesta, hubo una convocatoria a una marcha. Y el señor Hernández, convocó a todo el personal a través de una orden verbal. Y después, nos llamó a Marta, a Daniela y a mí, para una reunión en su oficina.
En la oficina nos amenazó, dijo que nos iba a amonestar, que nos iba a levantar expedientes y otra cantidad de amenazas y tonterías, si no asistíamos a la marcha.
Después de que Hernández, nos maltrató verbalmente y nos amenazó. Daniela tomó la palabra, le dijo qué ella sabía de su relación con su asistente y le comentó que, aunque ella no tenía nada en contra de los homosexuales, ella iba a mostrar la foto que tenía de él besándose con su asistente a todo el mundo, si seguí molestándonos y amenazándonos.
Daniela, le dijo que la foto estaba bien guardada en la red, y después, sacó su celular, le mostró la foto a Hernández, se la mostró a Marta y después me la mostró a mí. Yo me quedé callado y algo impresionado, ya que jamás me lo hubiese imaginado que al señor Hernández, que se la daba de macho y vernáculo, le gustaran los hombres. Marta, solo dijo: “Con razón, los ataques de histeria de este señor”.
Después de eso, nos retiramos los tres de la oficina, sin decir nada. Y para nuestra sorpresa, el día después de la marcha, nos enteramos de que el señor Hernández, había entregado su renuncia.
Me imagino que, a partir de ese momento, sentía un miedo terrible de que Daniela se molestara, y le sacara el esqueleto del armario, haciéndolo quedar en vergüenza delante de todo el mundo.
Así se acabó, la exclusión y el abuso, que había contra un grupo de personas, por prejuicios y acosos políticos.
Gracias por leerme.
https://x.com/ronaldjmarrero/status/1852400377640911023
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This was an experience that was worthy of a story and would not have been so shocking even in fiction. When politics mixes with work, these types of situations arise,which often do not end well.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Excellent day.
Hi @rinconpoetico7, my regards and thank you very much for the comment.
You know, I spent many years working for the government and there were indeed times when I saw things that were appalling.
One of them, was the ideological persecution, that they mounted against some people, especially this was done by people who were part of the Francisco de Miranda Front.
Truly, a good book and a series of stories could be made out of all those experiences, in fact that is what I do here, when I narrate my experiences.
Although I must also say that there were and there are very good and very professional people in the institutions and ministries where I worked.
But you are right, when ideology and politicking get into the job, it is a very negative experience,
Happy weekend.
Thank you very much for your support.
This was a nice experience and worthy too. I love it very much. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and knowledge with us.
Saludos @junnyjun, muchas gracias por el comentario.
Que bueno que te gustó el post.
Mis mejores deseos.
!ALIVE