I was laid off from my job of 12 years 2.5 weeks ago.

36 Comments

1. AnonymousOctober 10,2023 at 12:46PM UTC

   If I'm reading this correctly, that job was 14 years ago. Most employers only keep HR records for 7 years or so. I have had people check on my employment 10 years back and they were told those records are in storage and not available. So why you would be listed as not eligible for rehire is strange, unless your leaving was something horrendous or involved a law suit. If that isn't the case, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

2. AnonymousOctober 10,2023 at 2:29PM UTC

   They usually only confirm that the person worked there anyway.

3. AnonymousOctober 10,2023 at 6:22PM UTC

   It was not good but certainly not horrendous or involving a law suit. Basically I left without notice after I heard my manager bad mouthing me to HR on the phone in her office.

4. AnonymousOctober 11,2023 at 3:33PM UTC

   That’s probably it - my company’s policy is automatically ineligible for rehire if you leave without notice.

5. AnonymousOctober 11,2023 at 3:33PM UTC

   In the age of digitized records, many places keep information longer especially related to rehire eligibility. That said, they may be willing to give the OP reasoning. We often list people as not eligible for rehire for all kinds of reasons not all that are inherently disciplinary. For example, if you don’t give 2 weeks notice.

6. AnonymousOctober 10,2023 at 2:28PM UTC

   Don't worry about it. As the saying goes, "You can't go home again."

   Move on. There are other health care organizations that are no doubt hiring.

7. AnonymousOctober 10,2023 at 6:15PM UTC

   I totally agree. I've gone back to a couple of past jobs I left for different reasons, and the return was a reminder as to why I was no longer there. Move on to a new place.

8. AnonymousOctober 10,2023 at 6:02PM UTC

   I'm guessing because she wants to work there again, that the bad boss is gone too.

9. AnonymousOctober 10,2023 at 6:23PM UTC

   Yes you are correct. I would love to work there again now that the bad boss is gone.

10. AnonymousOctober 11,2023 at 2:31AM UTC

    Perhaps you can take the “not eligible for rehire” matter up with the hospital’s HR office, but I question whether it is worth your time and energy to do so?

    It appears that you have worked for a number of organizations and have left most under good terms. Why not concentrate on those organizations and on new opportunities?

11. AnonymousOctober 11,2023 at 7:18PM UTC

    No, there is not, clearly the manager with whom you had issues tagged you as such.

12. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 12:11PM UTC

    I am sorry to hear that you were put on a not eligible to hire list. I don’t know if there is anything you can do to change their policy. I know that you can change how you feel about the place. If you made friends, you can connect with them outside that environment. Another suggestion is thinking of pivoting your career. What else do you like doing, that can help you change the type of work environment you were used to? You have the power to change your circumstances, not the company that put you on a no rehire list.

13. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 12:28PM UTC

    Perhaps you can find out the reason by filling out a FOIL Request ( it could be only for federal agencies maybe not private companies. I agree with everyone else you should start fresh somewhere else. Best of luck to you!

14. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 2:46PM UTC

    It’s not “FOIL” it’s FOIA

15. G C HesseOctober 12,2023 at 12:34PM UTC

    Why waste your time and energy!

16. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 12:52PM UTC

    If it doesn’t bother you, why the effort to have it reversed? Bad bosses are enabled by bad companies. There will probably be more bad ones there now. Get a fresh start.

17. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 12:53PM UTC

    Unfortunately even if it were reversed you're likely going to face some negative unconscious bias. There are so many understaffed hospitals that would be lucky to have you.

18. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 1:03PM UTC

    To those of you that ask why it’s bothering her so much, she has a reason. It could possibly affect her getting her next job ANYWHERE! Any thing negative on job history is not a good reflection on herself.

19. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 1:47PM UTC

    Highly unlikely, that what happened 14 years ago, will even come close to entering the radar of a new employer. Unless, the ex-employee's behavior was so egregious, that the employer is legally required to share this information in a reference check. The majority of employers, if they know what there're doing, will only provide the minimum information on a reference check (e.g, job title and dates of employment). Employers use to verify salary information, but even that may be a questionable practice today since many states have passed laws that prevent employers from asking a job candidate how much they are making. Employers don't want to share too much ex-employee information. All employers want avoid the liability that could be created by harming their ex-employee's chances of gaining future employment.

20. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 1:36PM UTC

    Simple answer, but it may be hard to accept: Don't waste anymore time on a situation that took place 14 years ago. If you are finding that hard to do then possibly there are other issues going on. I won't speculate on what those could be...you know yourself best!
    You have 12 years of solid experience...this longevity can be seen as a great reflection on you as a job candidate. Focus on this and other positive characteristics, skills, and abilities that you can offer to your new employer. I'm serious about stop wasting time on the past...it will only delay and possibly tarnish your future.

21. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 1:37PM UTC

    I was in a similar situation as well and luckily, my job’s HR department was able to reverse my title as “not being able to be rehired.” My old boss was unprofessional and they believed my story of mistreatment, so they hired me back. Apparently, she had a reputation of being difficult to work with. You can always try your luck and if things don’t work out in favor perhaps it’s for the best. It’s been so long that I’m sure they will be willing to look into your request. Good luck!!

22. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 2:31PM UTC

    The company will not rehire someone under those circumstances, because of the risk of sabotage. I was let go from an “internal job” that I applied for, however after eight months I was not a good fit. They gave me 30 days to find another internal position, which did not happen. Even with this, my file was labeled Do Not Hire. Unfortunately, even though you left on your own accord, your boss must have notified HR to not hire you back. I understand, it’s frustrating even when you have a strong work ethic, but that’s how companies work and it’s their lose.

23. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 9:56PM UTC

    "...but that's how companies work and it's their loss" is a generalization. I guess to mitigate this generalization, I would say that we all have worked for companies, if forced to, we could say have been good, bad and ugly experiences. Just like employees, no company is perfect and at times make mistakes. I'm not excusing those mistakes or failures, but the real test is what is the company (or employee) trying to do to improve upon the mistakes made and/or evolve into a better company (or employee). The employment relationship is a two way street. That relationship works best when both parties are making the contributions necessary to mutually sustain the relationship.

24. Terrie McWhorterOctober 12,2023 at 2:56PM UTC

    Let it go and move on...Seriously why would you want to go back where you left with a bad taste in your mouth.

25. Dawn LadislasOctober 12,2023 at 3:11PM UTC

    It really depends. I had an employer I left around 15 years ago, and I'm sure they had a don't rehire, but they were later found guilty of firing people without justification (like firing people the corrupt HR didn't get kickbacks off). They had to take all/most people off their don't rehire list. My most recent former job has a do not rehire list but have no intention of ever applying again anyway.

26. Erin BeemerOctober 12,2023 at 3:40PM UTC

    Let it go.

    Even if it were reversed, consider that a lot has changed in 14 years and likely it is not the same as your memory with many changes to staff, policies/procedures, etc. Better to leave it alone and move on.

27. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 3:42PM UTC

    Most companies do not have any type of appeal process for this. My recommendation is put your energy and efforts in finding an organization where you can make a fresh start. Look forward, not backward.

28. AnonymousOctober 12,2023 at 3:55PM UTC

    I'm on the not eligible for rehire list from my last traditional employer because I filed a complaint against them with the EEOC, due to the fact that my former employer wrongfully terminated me for being disabled (which my former employer knew about all of my various disabilities at the time of hire 15+ years prior to them wrongfully terminating me) and I was also terminated for filing complaints with the EEOC for workplace bullying and workplace harassment. I eventually received a small settlement from my former employer in which I used to start my own business, and I'm much happier now as my own boss. So, in the end what they thought was going to hurt me financially, actually made my financial situation better, because I went from making $14.92 per hour as an employee, to making a minimum of $75 per hour working for my clients. I wouldn't even consider going back to my former employer after how I was treated, and it's gotten even worse now since I've left (I'm still in contact with several current employees that worked there at the same time that I did).

    I wouldn't even worry about trying to go back to the hospital nor would I even consider using them as a reference, being that it was from that long ago. If it should get brought up, just be honest without throwing the former employer under the bus.

29. Jennifer WehrendOctober 12,2023 at 8:15PM UTC

    Our hospital/dept have the same policy and have hired these people back. If you haven't already, reach out to someone in HR and ask.

30. LORI-ANN BURLINGAMEOctober 13,2023 at 1:02AM UTC

    Why do you want to go backwards? It's over. Thnk about your future and what you want your new job to look like. (Don't let your ego keep you stuck in the past.)

31. AnonymousOctober 14,2023 at 11:09PM UTC

    I don't think ego is involved here. Its bothering her that its keeping her from going back there. Its been 14 years, seems silly to be blacklisted in perpetuity, especially if she left because of a bad situation. Her former boss may not even be there anymore, things change in 14 years.

32. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 6:16PM UTC

    Depends on the size of the organization as data (whether physical or digital) is expensive to store. I worked for a large restaurant corp that had 55k employees (restaurant employees tend to change jobs frequently as well). You are legally required to keep the info for 7 years...after that it is up to you. We would typically destroy after 8 years as our bill with Iron Mountain would add up quickly.

33. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 6:36PM UTC

    How do you know? Typically employers do not tell regular employees who’s on the list. Maybe a friend still works there and told you? Either way, take it in stride and move on.

34. AnonymousOctober 14,2023 at 11:06PM UTC

    Why should she take it in stride and move on? She is saying she would like to go back and work there, since despite having a bad experience with a bad boss, she otherwise enjoyed working there. She is asking for feedback on how to resolve it since it's been over 14 years. I think its a valid question.

35. AnonymousOctober 13,2023 at 8:11PM UTC

    I strongly suggest you look elsewhere, not a good idea to go back there.

36. AnonymousOctober 16,2023 at 9:28PM UTC

    FOIA stands for Freedom of Information Act