The hidden truth about a Domestic Violence Agency

To clarify, I did not voluntarily take a medical leave; my physician placed me on leave due to the seriousness of my condition. While out on leave, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I cannot imagine anyone fabricating a condition of this nature, and I certainly didn't.

During that time, I was still employed by the Durham Crisis Response Center, where I had served faithfully for years. The Board, HR, and the ED were fully aware of my diagnosis.

Unfortunately, the ED's hostility towards me appeared to outweigh any concern for my health or well-being. Despite my years of dedicated service and my critical need for health care during cancer treatment, they showed a complete lack of compassion. I was told a few weeks before my diagnosis that I was still employed. A week after I disclosed that I had Breast Cancer, I was terminated by email.

Their actions included the ED trying to withhold pay, which was heartless and retaliatory. The organization's decision to bury the main investigation only underscores the injustice I experienced. It is clear that protecting their public image and avoiding accountability mattered more to them than supporting an employee facing a life-threatening illness.

Facing Cancer is hard enough. Facing it while being disregarded and mistreated by your employer is devastating. I devoted years of work to an organization that's supposed to protect and uplift others, but when I needed support, I was left feeling abandoned.

I'm sharing this not to attack individuals, but to raise awareness of how cancer patients and people on medical leave can be mistreated in the workplace. No one should lose their livelihood because they got sick.

Leadership was informed of my diagnosis, in which she shared all of my emails to subordinates as they admitted in response to my previous post. Yet I faced retaliation and was eventually terminated two days before my treatment plan.

False information has since circulated about me to the public which are untrue. I have medical documentation, emails, and employment records that verify every fact.

I hope this story encourages other survivors and employees to stand up for themselves, seek legal advice, and know their rights. Healing from cancer is hard enough-no one deserves to fight their employer at the same time.

#BreastCancerAwareness #WorkersRights #DisabilityDiscrimination #SurvivorStory

#WorkplaceRights

#DisabilityDiscrimination #

#DurhamNC

Sincerely, Latoya Jones