Sean O’Connor, an insurance broker employee in Chicago, claims he suffered antigay harassment from his former employer, according to a report in the Windy City Times.
O’Connor worked as a media associate for GoHealth until April of this year. According to complaints, he was at a work function at a restaurant. While chatting with some of his colleagues, GoHealth Vice-President of Sales Scott Sullivan approached the group and joined in the conversation.
Then things took a dark and sudden turn.
Without provocation, Sullivan clenched his fists and called O’Connor a “faggot motherfucker.”
Then he said it again.
“Faggot motherfucker.”
Sullivan walked away. When he complained to GoHealth’s CEO, Clint Jones, Jones accused him of “causing trouble” and had him kicked out of the event.
O’Connor did not return to work after the confrontation. He said he received a written apology from Sullivan via email the following day, but still felt uncomfortable being around his colleagues.
“I needed some time to go over what happened,” O’Connor told the Windy Times. “It didn’t seem like a place I could be productive anymore.”
He ultimately decided to go on unpaid leave.
“I couldn’t do the job rationally,” O’Connor said, “Apology or not, I didn’t see myself passing this guy at the coffee machine every morning.”
O’Connor has since found a new job, but says he is contemplating legal action against his former employer.
“I’m not trying to play the victim,” he said. “But people still need to know that these kinds of things go on.”
O’Connor’s attorney, Betty Tsamis, told the paper, “This was a professional interaction, but that kind of language is obviously not appropriate under any circumstances.”
Ironically, in June, GoHealth was named as one of Chicago’s “101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” by the National Association for Business Resources. So far they are refusing to comment on the incident.
Photo credit: NBC Chicago.
Joe
“While chatting with some of his colleagues, GoHealth Vice-President of Sales Scott Sullivan approached the group and joined in the conversation.
Then things took a dark and sudden turn.
Without provocation, Sullivan clenched his fists and called O’Connor a “faggot motherfucker.”
Then he said it again.
“Faggot motherfucker.”
Sullivan walked away. When he complained to GoHealth’s CEO, Clint Jones, Jones accused him of “causing trouble” and had him kicked out of the event.”
OK, there is a shit-ton of info missing here. What caused the VP to suddenly, out of the blue call a gay employee a “motherfucking faggot”? Why isn’t that addressed here or in the WCT article?
Two possibilities: the VP (and CEO) are clinically psychotic or there’s more to this story than meets the eye.
Daniel-Reader
Well, based on the story, other people were present so there were witnesses.
Dixie Rect
@Joe: Agreed. Sounds like Corporate Queen drama to me. Way more to this non-story.
EdgarCarpenter
Much of the time the context for outbursts like this (anti-gay, anti-women, anti-black, etc) is mainly internal. Sometimes men think that other men or women are hitting on them when they aren’t at all – it’s a made-up internal dialog that seems real to the person having it, but which has no real external references.
I’ve been the target of that kind of attack several times, and it’s really weird. One woman I worked with was convinced that my normal politeness at work was in fact hitting on her – she refused to believe I was gay, and accused me of having ungentlemanly intentions towards her. Which most of our co-workers thought was funny, but I thought was sad – she was soooo delusional. What finally got through to her was when I said, in exasperation, that her chest just wasn’t hairy enough for me, so I wasn’t interested in sex with her.
tricky ricky
he wasn’t forced to quit. he never went back to work. how could he feel uncomfortable around people if he never went back? good luck at suing them.
tricky ricky
he is too trying to play victim. if he wasn’t this story wouldn’t be being reported.
Red_Dragon_888
Queerty should have a ______ of the year awards of the worst this or best that categories.
jimand7
This is possibly the dumbest story ever, boo hoo… the guy gets called a name and probably extorts the company and the company says “hey we did nothing wrong”. ( and clearly they did not) this was at a bar where clearly Seany boy provoked someone somehow and had a few too many apple-tini’s. If I were go health ( a great company to work for measured by many) I would sue this dude for slander. Its these type of people that make the world SUCK. Go away Sean and stop reporting these one sided stories that are not ‘news’ but rather fit the one sided agenda of the template for this irrelevant Queerty company.
Hollow story and simply not news, this guy should pay damages to go health.
DarkZephyr
@Dixie Rect: If its a “non-story” how can there be “more to ot”? Please explain.
DarkZephyr
@DarkZephyr: and that would be “it”.
dewin
OK people, put on your walking boots, start a campaign, and hit the company by not purchasing it’s product-We need more of that-
GoHealth sounds unhealthy with that O’Connor guy around.
MK Ultra
If that were me, somehow all of Sullivan’s personal information, especially the embarrassing, career ruining stuff, would end up all over the internet.
maryjane1976
I am a former coworker of Mr. O’Connor and was a witness to the event in question. I’m disgusted with a few of these comments. You sound like a bunch of uninformed, judgmental dicks that have no right placing blame where none is deserved. FYI – there was absolutely no provocation before these heinous comments were made. I applaud Mr. O’Connor for standing up for his rights and having enough integrity to move on from a place that condones this type of behavior. Stop being such haters and show some support!!!
gassho
Scott Sullivan is an embarrassment and should be fired from the company. This type of behavior would not be tolerated at any respectable organization, so I have to question the folks in charge at GoHealth.
Where is HR? Why didn’t Brandon Cruz and Clint Jones reach out and apologize to Sean and ensure him that this type of behavior and discrimination against their staff and employees is unacceptable.
GoHealth is supposedly one of Chicago’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies — but obviously being Bright doesn’t assume common sense or human decency is part of their corporate culture.
msanders1212
I worked there. Not surprised at all.
This is a good ol boys network here. Sleazy operation that churns customers – and employees – like cattle in a slaughterhouse.
All young, good looking boys there from the beginning. Entitlement mentality. Sex and drugs in the offices after hours, babes on the side one and all. No class, no decency. No soul.
Harrassment lawsuits swept under the rug by well paid lawyers.
I hope Sean sues em for millions and wins. LONG overdue. Strength to him in his fight.