Posted on 04/10/2005 12:37:16 AM PDT by BurbankKarl
When Susan Peacher hung up her latex evening gown and wooden paddle for a job with the federal government, the former dominatrix thought she was done with abuse.
She went to work for the Treasury Department in San Francisco, but when she arrived at her new job, she found that one of the office managers was a former client.
This man wouldn't leave her alone, she said in a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit, charging that he sexually harassed her, attempting to kiss her in the elevator, telling her she had "luscious lips,'' and repeatedly asking for "sessions.''
When she objected to the salacious advances, Peacher says, the manager manipulatively became her direct supervisor and downgraded her performance evaluation. When she complained to higher-ups, coming out of the closet about her previous line of work, she says she was retaliated against and given little to do.
Rather than sit idly at her desk, Peacher spent her time studying workplace harassment and labor law. She also accumulated an arsenal of damning evidence: phone logs, e-mails, documentation of encounters with her alleged harasser.
Last month, Peacher, 45, reached a settlement with the government, which did not admit liability or fault. She will receive $35,000 in compensatory damages, $25,000 in attorney fees, a job transfer, approval to work at her South Bay home one day a week, and the restoration of almost 800 hours of assorted leave.
"I don't think they expected me to fight as hard as I did,'' Peacher says.
In her unorthodox career path, Peacher went from Mistress Celeste to Norma Rae, from sex work in a San Francisco dungeon to white-collar respectability as a government program analyst. In federal service, she became a workers' rights crusader.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Only in San Francisco...
No kidding!
He should have known not to mess with his mistress.
There are parts of his conduct which appeared to have been beyond harassment and may have been criminal. If he did the things she alleged, he should have been criminally prosecuted.
I know you meant well but mine was a joke.
I know, I wasn't being critical. Please don't spank me.
On a more serious side, imagine the absolute hell defenseless taxpayers go through when they encounter an abusive Federal employee! (Note: I'm not bagging on Federal employees. I have met a lot of good ones - trust me on that!)
She'd be perfect for the IRS. I'd love to see her resume and how she got her job. "I'm been in various supervisorial positions", "I have strong leadership skills", "I'm a great motivator" and "Tough love is my philosophy".
Uhhh, don't ask me how I know about this stuff. I read it in a book, yeah, thats it, I got it from a book.
More resume qualifications:
I have experience in enforcing the rules and codes rigorously and without favoritism.
Oh, I think you want a spanking. Tell the truth.
(gee whiz, are fetish community & sex workers a protected minority in S.F. government now?)
I almost think they ARE a protected Federal Class.
Life can be cruel
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