All – Silicon Valley Worker Stories Project

Jayanti

Originally from Kathmandu, Jayanti came to the United States eight years ago. She used to work as a teacher, but since immigrating, she has been working as a babysitter for the same owner. She has not been given paid sick leave and is still working. Jayanti works nine hours a day, and takes rest breaksContinue reading “Jayanti”

Elena

Elena is a nurse working at two hospitals in Santa Clara County. She shares her experience working as a healthcare worker early on in the pandemic: “When the pandemic hit, I think the hospitals were not ready for a pandemic, for any epidemic … They are not issuing N95s to all the nurses that areContinue reading “Elena”

Irene

Irene immigrated to San Jose in the 1980’s. She used to work in the Philippines as a teacher, and moved to the United States with her one and a half year old daughter. She worked at first in the electronics industry as an assembly worker in Cupertino, and then began working in nursing homes asContinue reading “Irene”

Ramona

Ramona is a McDonald’s worker in San Jose. She escaped a violent home life in Mexico to raise her children with more safety and opportunity here in the states. Fortunately, although Ramona has faced obstacles, she has begun to see how using her voice for change matters. Ramona advocates for workers to lift up andContinue reading “Ramona”

ANONYMOUS #6

This is the story of a service worker at Stanford who is also a single mother. I have two small children at home that I take care of and who are also in online classes and all these changes are difficult because you don’t have anyone to leave them with. The supervisors do not helpContinue reading “ANONYMOUS #6”

ANONYMOUS #5

This worker at Stanford revealed working conditions during the pandemic. At first they did give us one mask and well logically it did not last and we didn’t have it and then they wanted to give us a warning because we weren’t wearing it. They made us sign a paper to give us one andContinue reading “ANONYMOUS #5”

ANONYMOUS #4

This is the story of a service worker at Stanford who experienced harassment from her employer. The supervisor started to sort of harass and for whatever small fault will make a complaint and the building manager will come to you and make you do your work all over again after you’ve already done it. SometimesContinue reading “ANONYMOUS #4”

ANONYMOUS #3

This is the story of a service worker formerly employed at Stanford. At the onset of the pandemic, she was told to not come back to work with no word of when she might be able to return and no continuance of pay. I worked at Stanford in cleaning. I wasn’t there long. I wasContinue reading “ANONYMOUS #3”

ANONYMOUS #2

This was taken from an interview with a Stanford service worker, who shared personal experiences of workplace harassment. I fell, but they were saying that I didn’t have anything wrong with me, that I was just saying that. I work with restrictions. I can’t do everything because of my doctor’s orders. “I am on myContinue reading “ANONYMOUS #2”

ANONYMOUS #1

This is the story of a service worker formerly employed at Stanford. When the pandemic hit, she was told not to come back to work and was left without an income. I was cleaning a daycare where they would care for little kids. My experience, well, we’re going through a very difficult situation right now.Continue reading “ANONYMOUS #1”