JOPLIN – A former male employee of the Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in Mount Vernon recently filed a federal suit against the department alleging retaliation, gender discrimination and a hostile work environment leading up to the termination of his employment.
Jeremiah Preston Trapp, a social worker who was employed by the VA for about 10 months between April 2014 and February 2015, alleges in his suit filed July 13 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Southwestern Division. that his supervisor, Diana Collings, and her supervisor, Janet Tekell, colluded to have him terminated after he participated in an internal VA.investigation. The investigation was looking into claims of a hostile work environment at the Mt. Vernon clinic.
After he was interviewed by the investigation, Trapp alleges that he received a negative report regarding conduct from six months prior that had never been addressed before. He claims that his personnel file was altered to reflect this report after he had received his performance evaluation. He alleges that this was done by both his supervisors in retaliation for participating in the internal investigation and that it was meant to “intimidate and antagonize” Trapp so that he would step down from his position as a suicide prevention coordinator.
Additionally, Trapp alleges gender discrimination and a hostile work environment. This stems from what he alleges are comments made by his supervisors regarding male staff at Mt. Vernon which he says were, “negative and hostile.” The suit alleges that there was a hostile work environment toward men in general at the Mt. Vernon clinic and that it was “so pervasive and well-known,” that Trapp was warned by his co-workers to be careful when with his supervisors because of his gender.
The suit alleges that these comments were made by the supervisors while Trapp was present. Also, that the supervisors and two other female employees, “engaged in sexual harassment and bullying of male employees” so severe that it intimidated male staff that they might lose their jobs. Two male co-workers allegedly resigned because of what they felt was discrimination based on their gender from Trapp’s supervisors.
Trapp is suing for financial compensation from being terminated from his position, including back pay and loss of benefits, as well as to pay for attorney’s fees and costs of pursuing the suit. The suit asks for a jury trial.