Robert Hing Scottsdale Resort and Athletic Club Mom Victim of Discrimination and a Hostile Work Environment Scottsdale Arizona

Mom Victim of Discrimination and a Hostile Work Environment

As a leader, teacher, manager or business owner, we have a moral and civic obligation to conduct ourselves in a professional manner.  I have been a leader, teacher, manager and business owner. I pride myself in upholding those values.  I have never sexually or verbally abused co-workers or staff. I pride myself in being fair and honest. I believe in using conflict and resolution skills. I believe in training staff, implementing and following policy and procedures. There have been times that I have had to terminate or reprimand an employee. Not fun but necessary. Even then, they were privately confronted and without compromising integrity.  Just recently I have become a victim.

As a professional female in management, I have faced certain challenges and obstacles that I am sure men do not face. As a mother with a career, I face more demands financially, with time, energy and limited resources. That being said, it is a proven fact that women are not less successful than men, in fact, statistics show that women are starting businesses at more than twice the rate of all other businesses. Women do better in school than men. Women are resourceful, and able to succeed.  I think it is partly because we our trained through our children to multi-task, utilize our time productively, and do it all with a great big smile.  Why is it that women hold less executive jobs than men?  Why is discrimination still happening to women in and out of the workforce?  I am hoping that my story will help create awareness and put a stop to employers breaking the law.

The issues all began a few months ago. Being a mother and trying to have a career again has been the most challenging this year. My frustration began when I decided to return to my main profession in the Hotel/Resort Industry.  I wanted to set a realistic goal for myself and wait to re-enter the professional workforce when our family was ready.  Due to financial hardship, the time came sooner than expected. I was very aware that in order to accept a management position as a working mom I would have to be prepared. Most positions of that nature require a minimum of 50 hours per week. Planning was needed to take on such a huge commitment. After searching long and hard I finally found, hired, and trained a nanny perfect for our family dynamics.  She is great with our kids, has a flexible schedule, nurturing and takes her job seriously.  Once our nanny was in place, it was time for mommy to become her independent successful self again.  My search started about three months ago. My resume speaks for itself and I have interviewed for several jobs. Most interviews had second, third, and even fourth time interviews.  The first company did not offer me the position because I had a gap in employment.  At that time, I explained that I decided to use my entrepreneur skills and open a state regulated Daycare Center. This allowed me to be with my small children and continue some type of career.  Because of the gap, I had to reveal that I had children. I did not get the position. Another company, after a third and final interview asked point blank if I was married and had any kids. I answered honestly. Needless to say, I did not get a call back.  A third company required applicants to take two tests revealing my strengths and weakness. I lucked out!  Not only did they offer me the job, but shared the test results with me.  I had one of the best scores in the history of their company. This helped boost my confidence.  It also confirmed that the only thing wrong here was being penalized for being a mom. Unfortunately, the compensation was not enough to pay myself a decent wage with the nanny expense.

Last week after spending a few months going through interview upon interview, I was finally offered an Assistant General Manager position at a Resort in Scottsdale.  I was very excited. I showed up at the meeting to discuss financial compensation and terms.  At that time I was asked by the owner how many children did I have and how old were they? I told him that I had a 19 year old son.  He seemed ok with that answer.  I continued with stating the age of my four year old.  At that moment, he cut me off and said that I could not possibly do the AGM position with a small child. He took the AGM position off the table and offered me a Director of Sales and Food and Beverage position instead. I explained that I had a nanny but could not change his mind.  He then asked me if I had any other children.  Due to his previous reaction, I lied and said no.  Out of desperation, I took the job and went home.  I felt violated, and angry that I was being discriminated against because of being a mother.  I felt terrible because I had to lie about my daughter.  Something I never do. The frustrating part was that it should not have mattered.  All of my previous employers and owners that were contacted gave me excellent recommendations. These were companies that I worked for as a mom and performed better than my predecessors of which some were men.  For the record, I am not dis-crediting men here.  I am only stating that women with children should not be discriminated against in the work force. How can we overcome the challenges we face as women in the workforce?   

It has been 8 days since I started my new job as the Director of Sales and Food and Beverage.  At Scottsdale Resort and Athletic Club. I love the staff and members I have met at the club. Unfortunately, I have been in a hostile, intimidating and offensive work environment.  For the first time in my life, I left a new job without notice. He yelled at me one too many times. Just a few days prior I was humiliated in front of a VIP client.  I guess the owner was trying to put me in my place. He revealed to me and the client that I was out of shape. (His exact words) That I had no business commenting on the real estate market when I owned nothing and I had no business commenting on the client’s 30 year marriage when I was single. The information was not all accurate but it was not an appropriate time to defend myself. The owner had no right to divulge my personal information. (Especially, to a complete stranger and VIP client) I just smiled and tried to keep whatever integrity I had left intact.   Inside, I was furious. 

The worst part is that the owner is an attorney. He obviously thinks he is above the law and can get away with it.  The irony is that he will.  I am not the only person he has mis-treated.  There are several complaints on this man.  I believe he has gone through 6 GM’s/ Directors in the past year. Many of his current staff fear for their jobs and have said that they have no choice but to take the abuse. I feel sorry for them.

This situation is a major set-back for me personally and financially.  Not only am I out of a job but so is the girl that I hired to watch my children. This owner Robert Hing, referred to by me as “Mr. Thing” is breaking the law. I am now unemployed and do not have the financial resources to stop him.

My only way to help stop these things from happening is to at least report it. I may be taking a risk by putting my name on something like this, but I believe it is the right thing to do.  I am not a trouble maker.  I am a female who’s rights have been violated.  Up until now, I have remained silent.  I can’t complain or stop any of this if I don’t speak out.

Please pass my name to any employers looking for a talented female professional, mother, with extensive Sales and Food and Beverage Management experience in the Resort industry.

FYI Don’t ask me my age, marital status, religious beliefs or if I have any children.  I will refuse to answer.

LOL