In Episode 6 of Unmasked: Disability Rights at Work, we follow Johnny’s timeline from a formally approved disability accommodation to a sudden workload shift he warned would damage his performance. What comes next is a sequence that many employees recognize but rarely hear explained clearly: delayed training, manufactured “performance friction,” contradictory verbal praise versus harsh written documentation, and a manager’s chilling admission that the mismatch is “just write-up language.”

Then the story escalates: a promotion denial justified with claims about “acclimating” to remote work, followed by remarks explicitly tying disability and family life to credibility and advancement. We break down why these moments raise serious red flags under ADA best practices and EEOC retaliation frameworks, how “neutral” processes can be used to build pretext, and what a compliant employer should have done instead.

This episode ends where the stakes get even higher: the complaint is filed, and the investigation begins. Next episode, we go inside the investigation phase and how scope, credibility, and documentation can shape outcomes long before any “finding” is announced.

In this gripping episode of our podcast, we dive deeper into a harrowing workplace saga following an employee’s autism disclosure and remote work disability accommodation.

From a shocking admission of sabotage by a manager to a promotion denial laced with blatantly discriminatory remarks about disability and family life, we unpack the red flags under ADA and EEOC guidelines.

Join us as we explore how overt prejudices perpetuate trauma and what it means for employees facing similar battles—stay tuned for more updates on this journey toward justice.

The walls are closing in on Johnny. Despite consistent positive feedback and undeniable progress in his one-on-one meetings, he's blindsided by a formal Performance Advisory (PA) citing costly mistakes and underperformance.

But Johnny's got receipts, and he's ready to challenge the narrative.

What happens next is a jaw-dropping admission from his manager that reveals the cynical reality behind "Performance Advisory language" and confirms Johnny's worst fears: he's not just failing to meet expectations, he's being set up.

Why is Johnny's manager lying to him and the company in this official record?

Tune in as Johnny uncovers the deliberate misrepresentation of his work and the chilling implications for his career.