spendology

It is worth it to have my integrity and the knowledge that I did the right thing. In hindsight, I am grateful that I could survive this experience and make it through to the other side.

It was career suicide but also lots of intimidation from my supervisor, contractors and co-workers. They did their best to make my life shit including going from being an engineer managing 12+ engineers, researchers and biosafety professionals, and designing/testing biosafety labs to pushing paper and looking over my shoulder.

I did write a post on Medium with the title Never Blow the Whistle. I wouldn't wish the harassment and agony on an enemy. Yet, I feel like I was the "right person for this job" because I have a positive attitude and I'm a problem solver. I was also fortunate to be single and an entrepreneur. I obtained approval while working as a Fed to do outside activities. Fortunately, I got to a point where my venture(s) could pay the bills by the time I was fired.

Another anecdote about the personal safety part. When the contractors realized that I wouldn't help them defraud the US Government and tax payers they filed a workplace harassment and violence investigation against me. It was an easy sell because I'm a tall African-American guy and the contractors were very friendly with my supervisor and Director of the NIH Division of Occupational Helaht and Safety, Deborah E. Wilson, so I was quickly reassigned and moved "out of the way".

After years of enduring psychiatric evaluations, time and leave scrutiny, reassignments, negative performance reviews, warnings, reprimands, and suspensions - I went to Human Resources with evidence and a complaint of working in a hostile work environment.

They laughed at me and told me that ongoing investigations into contract fraud (that weren't actually happening) would have to conclude before any action could be taken.