Complaint Review: U.S. Security Associates

 I worked for this company 5 months and was moved to several sites in Richmond and Henrico, VA. I wasn't the best officer but I wasn't the worst. I filled in whenever I could and traveled to other sites when needed. The last site I was assigned was predominantly ran by women with a woman supervisor. I was falsely told on my first day at the last site I had to shave my mustache. When I refused and left the site I received a call from the branch office stating I "misheard" this even though I have a good memory from doing security and in the military, I know what was said. I returned to the site and received daily harassment from the women on site but as I man I just took it because I know if I responded it'll be worst because I'm a man. On my final day I worked the Richmond bike race for the company doing crazy hours and I was exhausted between work, school, and home life. A day before I had a conversation with the female supervisor on site about an issue with me going to the second guard post on time, I always had to wait until the shift leader decided where she wanted me. So I said I'll just start my day every day at the second post. The next day I was harassed beyond measure and I tried my best to keep my composure. I was the only one there with one other woman and it was difficult because I could have been accused of anything and they all had a clique, I was an outsider. I went over the female site supervisor and told the field supervisor even though I was afraid to do so because just as I learned in the military, filing a grievance is the right thing to do but when it comes to your career it can turn out wrong. I should have listened to my gut because I learned the hard way what so many sailors, marines, and soldiers, even security officers for other companies have already told me. I was told it was going to be an investigation and that made me uncomfortable knowing I had to return to the same site with just me and the woman and her clique. I eventually broke under the pressure of being falsely accused and didn't return to work the next day and the Operations manager basically told me because I didn't go to work he didn't care anymore, he has to go and hung up the phone. I learned in this that workplace harassment can happen to men too and that the age old military recommendation to not report this type of stuff stands true. Be careful of the Richmond branch and the upper management as well as what you'll deal with at the sites.