Former counsellor testifies she felt discriminated against

A human rights board of inquiry was held Feb. 5 in Cornwallis Park where a former counsellor testified about how she felt she was discriminated against based of her race and gender during the time she was employed at Searidge Foundation.

Darlene Lawrence is a former employee of Searidge Foundation, an addiction centre in Annapolis County. She was fired in July 2017.

She had started working at the Searidge Foundation in December 2016.

She and another former employee testified at the board of inquiry last Wednesday morning. They both mentioned during their time working for the foundation a policy and procedure manual was being updated; however, both Lawrence and the other witness never saw the manuals being reviewed, replaced or revised, they said. Lawrence said she never received a manual during the time she worked there. She said she had asked multiple times to see the policy and procedure manual but each time she was told it was being updated.

Lawrence testified that she received many letters of reprimand and a disciplinary letter during her time at the centre. She said in March 2017 she received a reprimand for being at the “smoke shack.” This was a place for clients and workers to socialize and hang out, she testified. She said she was told that only clients were allowed at the “smoke shack” — however, Lawrence told the board of inquiry that after receiving the reprimand she witnessed other support staff continuing to go there repeatedly, even though she couldn’t.

Lawrence received another reprimand in April 2017 for using the kitchen. She said she was told she could only use the dining room in the kitchen for “simple business matters,” such scheduling in times for clients.

Lawrence also testified that she was working more than 40 hours a week due to a lack of clinical counsellors at the time. She received a disciplinary letter for working so many hours but says she was later asked to work more than 40 hours a week by a clinical supervisor. This was after the letter of reprimand had been given to her, she testified.

Lawrence said she was also accused of sexism, harassment and bullying against a staff member, which she received only a reprimand for. She said there was no further investigation by the supervisor into these accusations. She further went on to say that a counselor accused her of abuse against a client and his parents, which had been written down in a clinical notation. Despite Lawrence asking for an investigation there was no investigation into the matter.

The board of inquiry was scheduled to conclude on Feb. 12.