I began at my new job with one big promise to myself: keep my personal life completely separate from work. My last job ended badly — I had a stalker — and I’d spent months living with low-grade anxiety because of it.
So right from day one here, I decided I wasn’t sharing anything personal with coworkers. I stuck strictly to work topics, kept conversations short, and politely shut down any prying questions. Some people thought I was distant, but to me it was necessary for my peace of mind.
Every morning I told myself: just do your job and go home without fear. It was a sad but honest way to live.
A few months in, my life changed in the best possible way — I got married. It was a tiny ceremony with only my closest friends and family. Right after, my spouse and I took a week-long honeymoon. I requested vacation well in advance and made sure all my work was covered before leaving. Tasks were wrapped, notes were in place, contact details left with colleagues — everything was neat and responsible.
I didn’t mention the marriage to anyone at work. Why would I? My marital status shouldn’t matter, as long as my work was getting done and I remained reliable. That was always my rule.
When I came back from the honeymoon, I didn’t even wear my wedding ring. Not because I didn’t want to show it — but because I didn’t want coworkers fussing or interrogating me about my life outside the office. I thought that was professionalism.
But I was wrong.
On my very first day back, my boss — let’s call her Karen — summoned me to her office. At first, I assumed she just wanted to hear about my trip. But the moment I sat down, her face was stone-cold, and she had a stack of papers in front of her.
Without any warning, she informed me I was being fired.
I blinked. “Fired?” I asked, stunned. For what?
Her explanation was bizarre — unbelievable. She said I was being terminated because I was “secretly married” and hadn’t disclosed it to the company. Literally fired for keeping my marital status private.
I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t even know such a policy existed. What business was it of theirs anyway? I tried to argue that my personal life has no impact on my performance, reminded her how I covered all my responsibilities before leaving, how I had always been professional. But Karen stood firm. In her view, not telling them something as personal as marriage was a breach of trust.
I walked out of her office in shock and disbelief. Fired… for being married and not telling anyone at work. It’s by far the most ridiculous and unfair thing that has ever happened to me.
