Google Fired Me

Never talk to HR.

Okay, yes, unrequited love hurts. A lot. But still... you acted stupidly.

You were told that you weren't supposed to contact her.

Doesn't matter if that's fair or legal or whatever. It's simply a bad idea to "bring up the HR issue" when walking home alone. And your conversation was probably very short mostly because it was extremely uncomfortable for her.

Shortly after that you're wondering what's happening now. Instead of asking HR, you're texting your co-worker again!

Then there's lots and lots of petty squabbling about semantics and exact meanings of terms in your "restrictions" (where you actually do have a point or two – but it simply doesn't matter. You're not supposed to talk to her!).

Yes, you totally contacted her again and again, but "it was a groupchat!". That's totally different. Not.

If you ever get into such a situation again: take HR's warnings seriously. The second after you stepped out of the first meeting was the second you should have realized "I'm in big trouble, deservedly or not, I need professional help."

Maybe a lawyer, maybe a friend, maybe even a therapist. What do I know? But you definitely did not need those knee-jerk reactions. "Hey, let's find a loophole where I can convince myself it's okay to contact her".

This is intentionally vague to the point of being dishonest. Take this quote:

> They asked about my whereabouts that involved this co-worker, all of which happened outside the workplace. I asked why these events mattered, and they told me that an issue has been brought to their attention in such a way that is has entered the workplace, and thus is now a workplace matter.

So something happened outside of the workplace with a co-worker, they aren't saying what, and HR got involved. HR said "stay away from this person inside of work" (paraphrasing). They they tack on this:

> If this co-worker wasn’t my friend at the time and wasn’t friends with my other friends, this could have been simple to follow.

And then:

> However, one evening in late July, we found ourselves walking home at the same time. I took this as an opportunity to bring up the HR issue raised last month.

And then:

> A week later, I sent a text to this co-worker asking if the HR issue was followed up on their end.

I just stopped reading at that point. I don't know why this person posted this if they're going to try and hide the core facts. They're clearly framing this story to make Google into the bad guy (and I legitimately don't know who they "bad guy" is since we lack too much information!).

The whole tone of this article irritates me since it feels so carefully worded politi-speak and half truths.

If HR tells you "if XYZ happens, you're fired" it's time to look for a new job.

15 years ago, freshly employed, less than 25 years old, introverted and socially awkward, I had a work colleague as well to which I wrote a romantic poem (for her, more or less out of the blue). It wasn't received well. Not well at all. I had trouble understanding her dismissal and insisted on that she gave me signs of affection. HR was involved briefly, my story sounded so similar to what OP writes. But in my case, she quit the job. Years later, I realised my self-delusion.