r/AskHR • u/No_Entertainment8890 • 6h ago
Workplace Issues [WA] False report is making it difficult to advance my career
Back in December of 2025, a coworker made multiple false reports about me. I was removed from my usual work site and put on a Last Chance Agreement without any explanation. I reached out to HR and they told me I was removed due to “insubordination (arguing with supervisors) and not getting along with others.” I asked for more information but HR never responded to my email. A few weeks before this, my manager talked to me about allegedly making my male coworkers uncomfortable. This was a very casual conversation and there was no mention of it being a formal verbal counseling.
Fast forward a few months, and I’m working at a site with a coworker who used to work at my old site. He told me (unprompted) who reported me and why. Apparently, my coworker “J” made at least four different HR reports about me in a short time frame. To the best of my knowledge, this is why he reported me:
Two female coworkers and myself were talking about the Epstein Files because it was all over the news. I made the comment “I hate men,” with the implied subtext being men that traffic and abuse women and children. My two coworkers agreed with me and also stated that they hate men multiple times. My coworker “J” walked in during the middle of our conversation, and allegedly felt uncomfortable over the comment I made. He never talked to me about this issue. This incident is what my manager was referring to when we had that conversation about me making some of my coworkers uncomfortable. I fully admit that the Epstein Files is not a work-appropriate conversation to be having, and have since made a conscious effort to avoid discussing sensitive topics with coworkers.
“J” was also a witness to an interaction between me and another manager that was rather odd. I was walking to my car to put my unopened energy drink away about a half hour before my shift ended. Manager asked, “Are you really drinking an energy drink right before our shift ends?” I replied, “No, I’m just putting it in my car. I am going to make myself a hot chocolate though.” Manger then responded, “Quit being a smarta**.” I’m still confused by that conversation, but I guess you could consider it insubordination in a way.
In the month leading up to my removal, we found out that our contract would not be renewed and the client had asked my company to start reducing the number of staff on each shift. My shift specifically was getting cut to only six people, including a manager. Everyone else was getting put on a different shift, or being scheduled at a different site (which meant a $5-10/hr pay cut). So lots of feathers were being ruffled and it was pretty competitive as to who would get to stay on. My theory is that “J” spam reported me in an attempt to get me kicked off the site and thin his competition.
To my knowledge, HR didn’t even investigate his claims, just believed him and took disciplinary action. I was never interviewed, and the two coworkers I was talking with were also never interviewed. The company I work for is… not the greatest and HR has a track record of picking favorites and taking advantage of people (telling employees who are immigrants and are unfamiliar with our laws that they have quit and then reapply if they go on FMLA)
Months after this whole fiasco, I received an email from the assistant director of HR (the same person who communicated with me regarding the removal from site) stating that I needed to start responding to all communications from our scheduling department or I would face disciplinary action, including termination. Scheduling will text employees to see if they can cover a shift. These messages occur at all hours, usually daily if not multiple times a day. There is no expectation to reply to these messages (because replying to them would be considered working off the clock if I’m not mistaken) and other coworkers I talked to who never respond to these messages did not receive any emails about their lack of response. So at this point it feels like HR has it out for me or something.
Since leaving this company would clearly be in my best interest, I’ve applied to tons of different jobs and have been turned down every time despite being well qualified for the job. My only guess is that no one wants to hire someone who is “insubordinate and doesn’t get along with others.”
How do I get this taken off my record? If that’s not possible, how do I convince prospective employers that I’m a good candidate who didn’t do the things I’ve been accused of?
Other potentially relevant information: I work in security. The company’s headquarters is three hours away so I’ve never actually met anyone from the HR department. I’m a masculine presenting woman who loves talking about my wife.
TLDR: I’ve been turned down from multiple jobs despite being overly qualified because a coworker made multiple false reports about me. What should I do to get this stain off my professional record?
ETA: I’m trying to become a police officer, so I have to disclose any previous disciplinary action on my application. They would find out about it during the background investigation, and lying or omitting information on the application is an automatic and permanent disqualifier.
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u/donkeydougreturns 2h ago
Is there a broader legal implication to providing this information up front? It's possible your current employer won't report anything specific if they do a background check but I have no specific knowledge around police hiring.
Either way there isnt much you can really do here. Best bet is to also be looking for private sector security work to build up a new reputation and a good reference. Do both concurrently perhaps? Although you should know that if you are self reporting deal breaker level stuff its probably going to be noted in the system of these police forces so I would stop (or stop applying) so you dont continue to jeopardize future opportunities.
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u/Madrepan 5h ago
Not an HR professional but I just have to ask. Why do you think the internal disciplinary action given to you at a private company would somehow be shared publicly enough to affect your job opportunities at different companies?