Certain employees are to be seen and not heard

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Hi:
I was thinking about something last night regarding certain types of employment positions. The one that comes to mind is that those who work in custodial or any type of cleaning positions seem to have an expectation that they are to be seen and not heard. This is especially true if you have some sort of disability. I notice that the ones who give you that other your supervisors and others in higher positions.

This happened when I worked at McDonald's and other fast food type positions where I was expected to clean. Even cashiers and cooks have this attitude towards you. On a few times, I had tried to join in with my co-workers when they were joking with each other. I was told to "Be quiet," "Get to work," "We're not talking to you."

This is the case for teacher assistants and after school care staff as well especially if you have a disability. I am the one person that almost never gets invited anywhere. I never get beyond the acquaintance stage with anyone even when it seems like we get along really well. It sucks to be the person that when asked about their weekend says they spent it doing chores and running errands. My weekends could be more interesting if I had friends to hang out with every once in awhile.

At my former position, which was a warehouse position with supported employment, there was woman who's sister had guardianship over her along with living in a group home who happened to date another co-worker off an off who was also in the program but was more independent. They were together long enough that she wanted to cohabit with and marry him.

When she brought up marriage and living independently, they labeled her as "Delusional" and talked behind her back.

He dumped her and hurt her really bad though she was manipulative. I felt like she was not even allowed to have feelings and they stuck her in the same room with him and expected she would just let it go and move on with her life. Rather she displayed a love-hate feeling towards him. Rather than help her, they took his side and did everything they could to protect him because "She was a monster with some kind of mental illness." They were very cold and misunderstanding of her.

People who can be bossed around will be. People who can be belittled will be. People who can be abused will be. That’s the joy of human nature.

I volunteered at tech ops last year for a convention and had asked a question to the public at the end of my shift to treat myself. Afterward, a man got up and yelled at us for me getting up to speak because I "Ruined the panel" and that as a volunteer, I should not be allowed to do so.

When I got a press for a talk over the summer so I could blog about it, it seemed like her attitude was to be seen and not heard. It was also "Get what you need and get out of here."