Many employees once believed HR existed to protect fairness in the workplace.

One worker learned the hard way that asking for help during a mental health crisis came with hidden consequences.

What followed was a vicious betrayal disguised as “procedure.”

Keep reading for the full story.

HR is not your friend. Learned that the hard way…

I used to believe HR was there to help—to mediate and make things fair. I really did.

Then I went through a nightmare at my job, tried to ask for help, and got hit with reality.

HR isn’t there to support you; they’re there to protect the company.

It all started when the employee tried to take leave.

I asked for accommodations after my mental health started slipping.

Legit stuff. Diagnosed.

I did everything by the book. Paperwork, doctor’s notes, meetings—you name it.

They smiled, nodded, and acted concerned.

But it soon became clear HR had no intention of supporting him.

Then the gaslighting started.

I came back from FMLA, and suddenly I wasn’t doing “enough.”

Even though nothing had changed in my actual performance, the vibe shifted.

Cold shoulders. Meetings without me.

Eventually, the final nail in the coffin arrived.

Then came the infamous Performance Improvement Plan. Out of nowhere.

It’s wild how fast they turn on you once you’re no longer convenient.

I got fired for reasons that made no sense. A couple of small things that never mattered before.

They just needed something on paper to justify it.

The employee is beside themselves.

Now I’m in the middle of a legal fight.

And it’s not just about me anymore. It’s about how easy it is for companies to get away with this.

How HR smiles to your face while setting you up behind the scenes.

Now they have a lesson to teach all other employees.

If you’re dealing with something like this, please trust your gut. Document everything.

Don’t assume HR is neutral. And don’t let them convince you that asking for help is the problem.

It’s not. They are.

Betrayals like these really sting.

What did Reddit have to say?

Sometimes you have to know the rules better than the people in charge.

When you’re backstabbed by your employer, it’s hard to trust anyone ever again.

Unfair hierarchies exist in many types of industries.

It’s a hard lesson to learn, but when it comes to the workplace, it’s every person for themselves.

Turns out HR documents faster than it protects.

Once the mask slipped, everything finally made sense.

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