I Stood Up Against Workplace Injustice

The warmth of the cake from my thirtieth birthday hadn't faded yet, the sweetness of the cream lingering on my fingertips, stubbornly refusing to go away. I sat at my desk, staring at the project report that had just been finalized on my computer screen, and let out a quiet sigh. Five years of struggling in the Marketing Department, from a newcomer to someone who can take charge alone; this report card finally lived up to my efforts. Knock knock. Bella from HR tapped the partition by my workstation, her face unreadable and her tone calm and flat. "Rachel Lynn, Mr. Collins wants you to come to his office right now." My heart sank, and the sweet warmth at my fingertips was instantly replaced by a chill. There had been rumors about company restructuring recently, but I had just successfully completed my project, with my performance ranking in the top three of the department—I never thought it would be me. "Bella, do you know what this is about?" I stood up and asked. Bella shook her head, a complicated look flashing in her eyes. "No idea. Mr. Collins didn't say, just told you to go over now." Mark Collins's office was on the top floor, the sixteenth, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a clear view of the rows of skyscrapers and the bustling city skyline. But the atmosphere inside the house was as cold as an ice cellar, and the cold air from the air conditioner seemed to chill me to the bone. He leaned back in the leather seat, tapping his fingers on the desk absentmindedly, creating a sharp, jarring "tap tap" sound. "Rachel Lynn, the company has decided to transfer you to a new position." I froze, not fully registering it, when I heard him continue, "Logistics assistant, monthly salary fifteen hundred, hand over your duties starting tomorrow." "What?" I thought I'd misheard, looking up sharply with a trembling voice. "Mr. Collins, I've been with the Marketing Department for five years, consistently ranked in the top three for performance. Even if not outstanding, I've certainly earned my place. Why the sudden transfer?" "Why?" Mark Collins scoffed, leaning forward slightly, his eyes filled with disdain. "A woman at thirty just can't keep up anymore." "The Marketing Department needs young, driven people. You? Just settle in quietly and work until retirement." Words dripping with age discrimination stabbed into my heart like needles, sending sharp, relentless pain. I clenched my fists so tightly my nails bit into my palms, struggling to suppress the swelling emotions. "I do not accept the job transfer." Mark Collins raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile curling on his lips. "You don't accept? Then it'll be treated as voluntary resignation, with no compensation." "Mr. Collins, job transfers involving a pay cut require a valid legal basis. What you're doing violates labor law." I took a deep breath, doing my best to keep my voice steady. "Labor law?" He sneered and slammed his hand on the desk. "In this company, I make the rules." As I walked out of Mark Collins' office, colleagues in the hallway all glanced over, their eyes avoiding mine. Some looked sympathetic, others took a grim pleasure, and a few pretended not to see, quickly lowering their heads. Back at my desk, I opened my computer and pulled up the Market Supervision Department's hiring announcement saved three days ago — in two weeks, I'd officially leave and start a new chapter. It turned out Mark Collins had known all along; he did it deliberately. He deliberately used the job transfer to humiliate me, trying to force me out with a monthly salary of 1,500, just to avoid paying severance. I closed the announcement page, my fingers lightly tapping on the keyboard. If he wants to burn bridges, then I'll play along. I have to hold back and gather evidence of his illegal actions—not just for myself, but for those colleagues he has taken advantage of before.