An Open Letter to Fedex

Empty Promises in Big Corpo Facilities

-For the Uncensored!

“The great corporation which employed you lied to you, and lied to the whole country—from top to bottom it was nothing but one gigantic lie.”

Upton Sinclair “The Jungle”

            First of all, working at a factory is not an easy thing. I was hired on Jun 2nd, 2022, as I didn’t even get the job of package handler in an interview. I am literally considered hired help at this point. I don’t mind the opportunity, but there was two things that made me know what I was in for. My first day of Orientation was June 2nd, 2022. One boy, who asked a question to Teshara, a local HR representative that hired me, answered a young man’s question, about taking the 4 AM shift instead of the 3-9 PM Sunday through Thursday shift. He left, but then she began to state to all of us, “That was a waste of gas.” Everyone laughed, but this wasn’t a shock to me. She then said, “I’m just keeping it real.” One boy who was at our first day of orientation even talked to Teshara away from the class because of fear he would be made fun of. I knew this was a bad place from the beginning.  

            Another part of Teshara’s orientation is when she addressed the inclusion and disability section of the orientation. Teshara said, “we are a very inclusive place, and we celebrate diversity.” I don’t think Teshara was being inclusive when she made fun of the boy for wanting to come in on a different shift, after he left. Which makes her words about inclusivity an empty gesture. And as being diagnosed with schizophrenia, depression, since I was sixteen, and a blood clot, at 21, and Adult Aspergers, this was going to be an uphill battle, as well. As a reminder, having physical problems and mental disabilities is even worse thing to admit who don’t see that as an asset when you’re not able to lift boxes. I didn’t admit my disabilities to her in front of everyone at orientation because I would be made fun of if I spoke out openly.     

So, that was one red flag among many. I know that I was not going to get sympathy on this job. But by the second day of orientation, June 3rd, 2022, one person couldn’t make it Orientation because her car was being worked on. I have yet to see this person in the past two days, and I can tell her fate was sealed for not showing up to the second day of orientation.

            One manager at the Ashland Virginia fulfillment center said, “every day is an interview.” Imagine the way this hit me. It meant that we are going to be tested, and we couldn’t ask for help. It’s really hard for someone to go into a job expecting that everything is a performance review, and you’ll be fired for speaking up. The second manager spoke to us, Elijah Weaver, in his early twenties then proceeded to tell us, “do not power through the job. One worker, who didn’t report his pain, dropped out on the second day. And he wouldn’t be able to receive workers comp, and he was out for the next five weeks.”

            For the first three hours on June 5th, 2022, I was being trained for about five minutes from one associate, Justin, who looked rather dazed. The building was clean, presentable, and easy to maneuver. I could sense his frustration over not being promoted. He didn’t want to train because he wasn’t being valued in his time spent off and on, while he was in college. I did report back pain to Sazie, but was told, “it’s going to affect your back and knees.” I wasn’t shocked by this but the disingenuous acclimation of “powering through” came into play. As one manager told me not to speak up, and the other, Elijah Weaver, did.

            I can see the frustration, but I am more frustrated that the young boy on the line sent me to two other cars my first day, and it was interestingly suspect, to say the least. I learned about the points of contact, but I had made mistakes. It was my first day, and I had a workplace injury. A Thrive Market box clipped my big right toe, which caused it to bleed. I was chastised by Wilson Sazie for not being able to talk, because I was shocked. I have been out of a job since the COVID-19 pandemic happened. So, I was bound to mess up, and I was drinking lots of water. But I had not received a break on Sunday June 5th, 2022, at all.  

            Due to the workplace accident with my toe, I was let go for the night to “rest and recover” and report back on June 6th, 2022.

            On June 6th, 2022, nothing could prepare me what was about to happen. They say they hand out bottled water, but I had not received one bottle of water or Gatorade since beginning Fedex on June 5th, 2022 at the Ashland facility in Virginia. Two managers, including Wilson Sazie, have stated this to me, but they have not done so since. And when I brought this up to a manager, nicknamed Flags, when he asked me how I was doing, I said, “it’s wearing on me.” With a disgust, he readjusted his words, and said, with compassion, “I know this is a fast work place but don’t work so hard that you put your health at risk. Do it at your own pace.” A thought permeated in my head: I can’t do this job at my pace when boxes need to fill up the trucks and then face the wrath one minute from Flags.

            So, I admired that, but I’m sure Flags is under pressure. As everyone there. Only he then proceeds to tell me, “we’re in a bit of a hurry.” But on June 6th, I was doing the work of three people on three cars, rounding up to 9,000 boxes. Again. This was absurd. I couldn’t risk complaining about anything. So I had to go to the bathroom, but I couldn’t find it on the Outbound Floor. So, I went to the front of the building. I couldn’t find the manager to let them know, so I went. I wasn’t going to hold it in. As part of a blood clot, I can’t hold in my pee for anyone. I don’t care how many boxes get pushed back. If enough people were hired on Mondays, there wouldn’t be any backflow problems.

            Around 7:20 PM, one of the managers, Elijah Weaver,  proceeded to open the door to the bathroom, speaking into his microphone, “I found him” and proceeding to tell me haphazardly where the line bathroom was on the Outbound line. I was dazed, tired, and discombobulated. Both days I was let go early, as my second complaint was heat exhaustion, but the manager, Sazie, only proceeded to tell me, “you’re exhausted because you haven’t used your muscles in a while.” Wilson Sazie, for the second time, made fun of me for not being able to talk, as I was exhausted both June 5th and 6th, physically and emotionally exhausted.

            And I’m staring at him, nodding, stuttering, and not able to speak up. As someone who has written countless words, and deeds bestowing characters, and here I was. Silent, tired, and beaten down.

            On 06/07/2022, I messaged Teshara, at 6:58 PM, and said, “I have a question. Is it illegal to be denied, or never given, a break at a fed ex building? Because I was not given a break at any time on the first two days at the job.”

            From 06/08-09/2022, the outbound manager, Wilson Sazie, began calling me once a day in order to find out when I was coming back to work. I told him that I wasn’t feeling well. This was odd. Why would Fedex call me knowing that I might be injured and wanting to know when I would return back to work. It didn’t feel like targeted retaliation, but it felt so odd. At Glenside Medical, the doctor, Mr. Murphy, wasn’t in their system. So, that was odd.

Ms. Teshara’s prolonged absence as to her findings were also bothersome, and it didn’t fill me with any hope that my case would be considered a serious credible work place grievance.

On Thursday, June 9th, 2022, 6:58 PM, Ms. Teshara, responded to my text message, and asked, “May I ask who is your manager so I cam follow up with your question?” to which I replied, “Maurice Smith. Outbound manager.”

Between, I finally talked to Maurice to see if we could find a way to mitigate my complaints or address certain issues. Maurice Smith took his time explaining that “you shouldn’t go to the doctor” and “it’s hard strenuous work” all in the same conversation. Between the managers forcing me to go back to work, the only refuge I had from Maurice Smith was that “we don’t want to see you out on a stretcher.” And concerning breaks, the Ashland facility doesn’t offer breaks. He mostly wanted me back to not “lose my strength” since I had never done this before. Which was true. Maurice was going to give me a lighter shift, which could happen for about a month.

Ms. Tesaraha, on June 10th 4:11 PM proclaimed, “I followed up with Maurice Smith and he told me that he got with you about that.” Such a “professional” response from an HR Representative.

            I returned back to work, as they were going to give me two hours. On Sunday June 12th, 2022, I arrived at work, only to find that both the manager, Maurice Smith, and Sazie Williams, the manager on duty, did not have a conversation regarding my return. I was confused and Sazie let me home for the day, concerning the doctor. So, I called Maurice, as I told him that I went home, but he asked if I could return. “Sure.” I told him.

            I clocked back in, and went to work on the belt line. I was instructed to use the belt line, and it seemed pretty easy. Sazie addressed that “if it’s a box over four centimeters and over 75 pounds, leave it for last.” The job seemed easier and it didn’t seem that complicated. Nothing at FedEx is complicated, but just time oriented. It was easier. But I had nearly fallen through the fifth vanline, helping a coworker, Ian. A truck wasn’t “flushed” meaning a truck wasn’t pulled up to van line, causing me to fall through. I pulled myself out, as Ian didn’t even come to help me. As he was unloading the van inside the truck. And the only way I could escape falling, I pulled myself up was when my hand was caught on the roller. It’s the only way I didn’t fall all the way through. I did receive a wound on my left leg and left wrist.

                        First photo is on my left leg, due to the June 12th, 2022 injury at FedEx.

Second photo is on the inside of my left wrist, due to my June 12th, 2022 injury at Fedex.

Returning to work on June 13th, I went at 3, and they kept us waiting until 3:30. We watched some of Infinity War on TNT. It was relaxing, but nobody talked. So, I talked to Maurice, and he gave me the slowest shift. Checking in IC box, meaning too large to put on a belt line. Mr. J, an elderly but nice man, taught me how to move boxes slowly. He was very detail oriented, and willing to work with me. Clear concise speaker. Sometimes he saluted other co-workers. A kind heart in a cruel place. I took it very slow. None of my injuries flared up, and my anxiety wasn’t flaring up. My voices didn’t flare up.

I had to, in order to be careful and not get hurt. After that Elijah, brought me over to lift boxes on Outbound again. I thought that my complaints was understood. I needed something light. But I did it as slow as I could, because I wasn’t going to push myself in order to retain my sanity. So, I was getting tired around 7:00. I felt the large outbound boxes moving around me. I felt closed in. Like the outbound box was closing in around me.

            I hadn’t felt that way in a long time. Something so scary. Like I was about to faint. On the morning of June 14th, 2022, sitting on the couch is hard enough. My lower back is flaring up. When I try to flex my left leg, it pinches my lower back. A symptom the feelings I felt on the first full day of work, June 5th, 2022, and had mentioned to Wilson Sazie.

            When I decided to finally call the doctor, Elanor, from Stephen M. Ashe’s office required The phone numbers of the local HR, Teshara, who when Elanor called, “had voicemail boxes so I couldn’t get in contact with them.” When she tried to reach Maurice Smith, at the numbers 550-4633 and 550-4657, all she received was an “oh” and then put on hold when no one got back to her. To which I said, “this is not good.”

So, I did text Maurice Smith and told him to contact in a text message, “Hi Maurice, can you please get in touch with Glenside Medical Associates PC at 804-262-4673. I decided to go see a doctor. Stephen M. Ashe.” I have yet to hear his response as of 12:21 PM. As of 12:28, Maurice responded, “Did something occur yesterday,” to which I responded, “Yes, my lower back is pinching up. And it’s uncomfortable to sit.”

Receiving a call, Maurice was confused, because they “cannot make accommodations in order to suit the work load” and I “had to ultimately make a decision in order to see if this is the right job or not.” But Maurice then calmed down and said, “in terms of the workplace, how can we help you?” I stated that I needed a lighter shift, or something more relegated to my previous work history. “As a package handler, we don’t have these options, for uh, doing less handling. There’s nothing we can do about this. Obviously, I don’t have any admin functions. I need you to understand that we can’t change the work place.”

“I understand. Is it okay?”

“What do you mean?”

I was shocked. It just sort of blurted out, and I was just sort of taken off guard. I didn’t say anything.

“Until your body gets used to, you’ll feel a pinch. I don’t want you to become a liability, and the job is not going to change. You’re only in the first three weeks of your training. You’ll be doing the same function. You’ll be in the same position. I can’t put you in a position that doesn’t exist. So, are you going to come into work today.”

“Yes.”

I answered this question without thinking about it.

He said, “You are?”

“I said, I’m sorry, please repeat the question.”

“I’m asking you a question. Are you going to come in today.”

“I will try my best.”

“Okay. You let us know when you go to the hospital.”

This was the most unprofessional conversation I have ever had in my life with a boss ever in my experience. This was about thirty minutes of pure torture. Wilson Sazie and Maurice Smith won’t accommodate any of my requests.

So, I did call Elanor at Glenside Medical back and she said, “We don’t take emergencies anymore. We stopped that over 2 and a half years ago. Do you have a claims number?” I couldn’t find it.

At 2:36, the Glenside Doctor called me back and said, “Without a claim number they couldn’t find it.” So, I gave them my social security number, and they called me back at 2:42 PM regarding the situation and said, “According to the FedEx claims manager, they couldn’t find any claim regarding my social security number.” I replied, “this is not good,” but to which Elanora said, “We can’t see you without the claim number.”

I proceeded to go to the hospital. I arrived at the Henrico Area Doctors on Parham Road on June 14th, 2022, at 3:00 PM, because I have supplemental Medicaid. I arrived at 3:00 PM, received x-rays, and have been in the waiting room. My mother accompanied me.  

But at 6:32, I was then called again, by Maurice, who then proceeded to ask me which doctor I went to. I went to Henrico Doctors, because Elanorna, at Glenside Medical, said, “I would need the claim number because even in my social security number didn’t bring it up” and they said “I should have just gone to the doctor” and I told them I couldn’t. So, I sent Maurice the pictures of my medical information and Ryan was in on the call. He didn’t even announce himself at the beginning of the call either.

So, then, they asked what “wound care meant” and it was a bruise that I received while on the van line on Sunday June 12th, 2022. They were shocked, and literally quiet for two minutes. And Maurice said, “Have you told anyone else about this,” and I confirmed that this was the first time. “Good.” Was all he said. Maurice Smith and Ryan would process the information and send it to a third party handler. And they told me “work is at 4 PM tomorrow.” Meaning the 15th of June 2022. And I thanked them, oddly enough.

By the morning of June 15th, 2022, I had slept in until 8:30 AM. I felt my back stiff and so numb because of the pain. At 12:36 PM, it was time to face facts. I called Maurice Smith at 1:06 PM to detail a message “tendering my resignation” and “this wasn’t going to work out anymore” if he needed to call me I left my number as well.

At 12:42 PM, my claim had been heard by FedEx’s company, Sedgewick, reviewed my claim. It had a new sign on to which a log in that I didn’t sign up for previously.

At 2:30 PM, I was asked to talk to Elijah Weaver, but I was directed to Ms. Sedgyweck, who wanted me to detail what the accident was, and when I detailed the letter, concerning my lower back pain. I hadn’t reported this yet. She read the details about Sazie telling me to “power through it” but then she said, “But you said you just didn’t report it.” And then I said, “I didn’t report it to anyone else, other than Sazie.” She just shook her head and she said, “I can’t believe this” and then I said, “I have nothing to gain by lying.” So I asked where my paycheck was, accidentally saying, payment instead. She took me to the side, and was rather cheerful with the rest of her colleagues. Like something out of a psychosomatic split. So, I left, and haven’t been back since June 15th, 2022.

            But I won’t be beaten down by FedEx, who has committed major human rights abuses, in the past recorded days. I am of sound mind and body as I write these words. I have not been drunk or high, or inebriated by alcohol. So far, being subjected to strenuous work environment, with no extra help to keep boxes moving and stacked, no adequate break times offered, being made fun of for not being able to talk or defend myself, told two different versions of management style, shamed for speaking up, not offering bottled water or Gatorade to its employees, and being understaffed, poor management and HR representatives, not encouraging me to go to the doctor, bullying employees to go back to work, pulling me off the recommended slow line in order to help put packages on a slow day (flaring up my problems), no one responding to my complaints about my illness when Glenside Medical called them, not filing the claim that Glenside Medical couldn’t even find the records on the FedEx system, leaving one person, like myself, to complete three lanes of 9,000 packages. At this point, I have no idea what might happen to me, because I have no more words to argue.  

This is the truth.

LtB