'[My boss] was trying to throw me under the bus': Stellar employee asks for a $2/hour raise then gets fired for 'misconduct'; they're gaslit for a year before winning their case in front of the labor board

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    r/antiwork. Posted by u/kiki-to-my-jiji 6 hours ago After almost a year of being gaslit - I won. Kinda just wanna get this off my chest. I was fired in late January for "misconduct." This was absolutely untrue — I was a
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    fantastic employee. However, I found out the woman we'd hired and was still training to take my place was earning more than me (after I'd asked for a raise several times over 4 years
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    and been told there wasn't money in the budget). I asked to speak with my employer about it and he fired me on the spot over the phone. His words were "get out of my office. I never want to look at you again" (I
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    don't believe I'll ever forget how cold my blood ran in that moment. The panic, confusion, heartbreak). He always espoused Christian values (not my cup of tea, but I thought he meant well) and I considered him a second dad. So to say this stung is a massive understatement.
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    Since I was fired, my mental health issues multiplied - I derived a lot of my self-worth from what an amazing and dependable employee I was. So when I was fired, so suddenly, nothing made sense. I went
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    through a complete crisis of self. I maxed out several credit cards just trying to keep up with rent, bills, and food. Ive spent an embarrassing amount of time this year just fully disassociating and crying. Because I was "fired," I was not entitled to any unemployment or benefits. I was on my own.
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    I filed an appeal with the labor board in February, and finally had my hearing about a month ago. Today, they ruled in my favor.
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    The judge saw right through my employer and his tricks. The way he was trying to throw me under the bus and disparage my character.
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    The written decision was page after page of "he was wrong, you were right. We have reversed your decision." I'm really hopeful for some backpay, I don't know how that works, but honestly... it's so
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    much more important to me that I feel like I got my character back. I got ME back. I'm not a terrible employee. I'm not a waste of space. I'm not unemployable. I'm not a mean person. I'm a good person who got taken advantage of.
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    This is my first major step towards healing in almost 11 months. I'm still shaking and rereading the letter. I just can't believe it's... over. If you read this far, thank you for indulging me. xx
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    MARRASKONE. 5 hr. ago Hopefully from now on you don't build any faith, hope and your self esteem on your employers or boss. Those have to come from within, not from others. Everyone is replaceable in the workforce.
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    kiki-to-my-jiji OP. 4 hr. ago So so SO true. His daughter was diagnosed with the same mental illness I have. He would tell me over and over how grateful he was that I came into his life, to teach him and help him navigate his relationship with his daughter.
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    I researched his daughters special interests and found Etsy listings for Christmas presents. The owner, his children, and his parents all wrote me Christmas cards about how I was part of the family.
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    But hey, ask about a $2/hour raise after nearly 5 years... get the boot. Family is family. Work is work. Never gonna conflate the two again.
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    JanuarySoCold. 3 hr. ago One of the biggest red flags of the work world is when your employer says "We're like family here." 69 Reply Share Bridgetdidit 3 hr. ago Absolutely! .
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    RainMaker323 - 1 hr. ago . My employer told me in the 3rd round of interviews (before they ultimately hired me) "We aren't all here". I found that refreshing.
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    MARRASKONE. 5 hr. ago Hopefully from now on you don't build any faith, hope and your self esteem on your employers or boss. Those have to come from within, not from others. Everyone is replaceable in the workforce.
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    Remote Broccoli 4 hr. ago 1: Make a copy of the judgment. 2: Frame it. Have it around you in pictures. 3: If people ask, you explain. 4: Grab something good to drink, and something really savory to eat. Celebrate, and have a wonderful and awesome life, because you deserve it.
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    Wishbone Beautiful875 6 hr. ago Happy for you! Sounds awesome that justice was served 40 Reply Share kiki-to-my-jiji OP. 4 hr. ago Thank you
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    ihatetheplaceilive. 1 hr. ago I thought being fired was generally the only way you can connect unployment. If you quit you generally cant... and that's why so many employers try to get you to quit instead of outright firing you.
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    Tehsymbolpi 26 min. ago Yes and no. Quitting is making a conscious decision to no longer be employed, and generally you aren't eligible for unemployment because you made that choice. You can also be ineligible if you're fired for cause; the argument
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    being that you're choosing to engage in conduct that could get you fired. It's when you're terminated without cause that you're eligible. When an unemployment claim is filed, the state agency responsible generally reaches out to the employer to verify eligibility.
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    dobdob21212 hr. ago You are not responsible for your boss's words or behavior. If you are a good employee, then you are a good employee. Your boss's opinion is just one opinion and your boss is a flawed person to begin with.
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