I worked at Solvita from the age of 19 until 24. I came in excited to work, excited to learn, and with a passion for the mission- saving lives.
But, this place wore me down in ways I didn’t think possible. I was a great employee for my first 3 years, then I became pregnant. During my pregnancy, I was expected to lift heavy equipment, expose myself to dangerous cleaning chemicals, and work in an extremely hot environment. Because of this, I got a doctors note to limit my workload, and began to take more water breaks to compensate for the intense working conditions. Yet, I was still placed in unsafe working conditions until the final 1.5 month of pregnancy.
During a water break, mind you, I was pregnant, my director and manager cornered me and asked if I could “hydrate after hours in the evening to prevent frequent restroom breaks.” I refused to comply to this absurd request. The following day, I went to the restroom and grabbed a drink of water when my manger cornered me AGAIN and called me “counterproductive” for drinking water and using the restroom, because water will make me pee again in a few hours.
I gave years to this company. Overtime. Coming in at 3 AM to ensure donors were processed in time. But, I was reprimanded for hydrating and peeing while pregnant.
After that, I merely stuck it out until I found a job that ensured my child and I had healthcare.
One of the manufacturing supervisors has claimed they have formed a bladder infection from lack of time and ability to use the restroom. The core in Dayton reaches temperatures exceeding that appropriate per SOP, and nothing has been done to resolve this safety concern. I am not the only woman who was treated poorly during pregnancy, including a woman who had passed out several times before leaving the department due to dehydration and physical stress.
You are a number. You are merely a means to make the company millions of dollars. I still stand behind donation, I continue to work in the donation sphere- but I will NEVER work for Solvita again.
