Diversity was lacking at the Lakewood NY plant. I was treated like an outsider, and called Jose, or Juan on a regular bases, or how I am not like "normal Mexicans" (I am not Mexican) because "I am willing to work." ....etc. The team members seemed to be worked against to the point that I was brought into the office and told I was under investigation for work place violence. My reputation was systemically broken down with tales of unprofessional language and harassment. I never in my life felt so disrespected and hurt by lies told about me. I was afraid and frustrated that I was not believed. I was I never have felt racially harassed before in my life. I have lived diversity from my time in the military, putting myself through college after my military injury, and my time at General Electric prior to Cummins. It has never entered my mind that because of my Hispanic background, I would somehow be unwelcome or respected (naïve to the core I guess). When it came down to my word versus someone else's, I somehow lost out. From that time, I thought it was my fault. I spent a lot of time self reflecting and feeling embarrassed that somehow I had to tell my family what took place. I have never been fired before. I did not know what to do next. As I started to reflect, I definitely had some improvement of my own to do, but so did Cummins. Later I spoke to one of my colleague who was afraid to speak up because they were afraid of what happened to me would happen to them. Eventually it did. This all took place in the beginning of 2015, and I waited until now, because I am at a good place in my life both personally and professionally. I work for a great company, and I have improved tremendously in the last year. I am more equipped without anger to effectively evaluate Cummins. I pray they improve their diversity, and I hope that no one goes through what I did. If you work there and you are feeling the pressure like I did, please remember, you are not to blame, and you have to find the good people that will truly help you. They are there somewhere.
