A year ago today, I had my 10-year tenure terminated because my employer had a fundamental lack of understanding about people with invisible disabilities. (Translation: I was fired for being autistic after returning from a leave of absence for pseudo-related mental health reasons.)
Strung me along for a two-month “investigation” for supposed misconduct claims. When they terminated me (of course, close to the end of the month so they wouldn't have to pay health benefits much longer), I enforced my rights to request my personnel file according to state law. They stalled on that for two months. After claiming that they never received my request, they “magically” overnighted me my entire personnel file after I filed a formal claim of violation with my state's labor board (including unreacted documents of the investigation I was not supposed to receive, but because they placed it in my personnel file, they were legally required to disclose it to me). They even went so far as to tell me I was covered by an NDA – which I was not.
Having this information, I filed an EEOC grievance. They persisted on mischaracterizing the truth and willingly withheld documentation from investigators when they were forced to account for their actions. They rebutted my claim with 8 pages. I rebutted their claim with 250. Sadly, this effort didn't yield the results I was hoping for.
However, I didn't let it break me. I found other employment that utilizes my technical skill set and compensates me for the overtime I work. I was also able to put more effort into my own business – one I am deeply passionate about.
Companies treat you only well _enough_ to keep you producing. Once you are seen as a liability in any sense of the word (disability of any kind, etc), they will shitcan you faster than anything.
Honestly, fuck this company. I regret giving them a literal decade of my life and wish I had something more to show for it than $5000 in UEC.
Edit: I'm aware that this post leaves a lot of information out. There was a LOT of drama over the last year I'd rather not go if I can help if, but I felt a sense of obligation to post here to share my experience. This sub – in addition to a few others – has been a small comfort to me over the last year, so I felt it pertinent to contribute. Hope you all understand.