Goodwill Industries review: "Goodwill of Northeast Texas: protecting predators and retaliating against victims"

When I joined Goodwill of Northeast Texas, I believed I was stepping into an organization committed to helping people and building stronger communities. What I didn’t expect was to experience one of the most traumatizing events of my life — sexual assault by a manager — and to face retaliation when I tried to seek justice.

The incident occurred at the McKinney Plant in McKinney, Texas. The assistant manager, Charlton Atkinson, also known as Gino, began with inappropriate comments and gestures. His behavior quickly escalated to unwanted physical contact — running his hands through my hair, suggestively rubbing my arms, and even touching my breast while grabbing my arm. Shocked and disgusted, I reported the assault, expecting the organization to act decisively to protect me and others.

But instead of support, I encountered a wall of indifference and silence. HR staff stated that no reports of sexual assault had ever been made, but this is simply not true. The organization has a history of covering up such incidents, with workers remaining silent out of fear. Goodwill Northeast Texas dismissed my claims and failed to hold the perpetrator accountable. Worse, they retaliated against me by terminating my employment and denying me access to their education program, which is marketed as a benefit for employees seeking self-improvement.

This isn’t just my story. Many women working at Goodwill are afraid to speak out, terrified of retaliation or losing their jobs. Goodwill’s culture of silence allows predators to thrive while survivors are silenced and punished.

Goodwill of Northeast Texas markets itself as a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting communities, but its actions tell a different story. The organization’s refusal to act on my report and its decision to protect a predator speaks volumes about its priorities. How can an organization claim to help the vulnerable while failing to protect its employees?

I’m sharing my story because I refuse to stay silent. This is a call to action for anyone who believes in workplace safety and accountability. It’s time to hold Goodwill accountable for the harm it allows to continue unchecked. No one should have to endure what I experienced, and no one should be silenced for speaking out.

Let’s expose the truth and demand change. Together, we can ensure that predators like the one at Goodwill of Northeast Texas no longer have a place to hide.