Disney Employee Spends $24,000 on Drugs Using Corporate Credit Card -- Doesn't Get Fired

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Taron Sargsyan spends $24,000 before entering himself into rehab.Photo bythe author (licensed under CC BY 4.0)

Ex-Disney employee, Taron Sargsyan, recently posted a short memoir on Business Insider, outlining how his challenge with addiction caused him to charge $24,000 to his corporate credit card.

And, why the multi-billion-dollar company gave him a second chance...

Taron Started a Professional Internship at Disney, in 2014.

According to Taron, the internship took place in his hometown of Glendale, California. In his words,

"I felt a sense of purpose in planning summer activities and bringing the intern community together. It was the greatest summer of my life. Little did they know I was also struggling with a meth addiction."

He went on to explain how his "traumatic experience" coming out as gay and not being accepted by his family felt like a "lonely, dark fog".

"My traumatic experience of coming out as gay to my Armenian family brought a lonely, dark fog over my life. My workplace was a refuge from addiction and my pains."

After Taron's internship, he was hired as a software engineer on the PhotoPass team. His dream job earned him a near-six-figure salary -- most of which went to helping his "immigrant family".

And, unfortunately, "drugs"...

Taron Bought $24,000 Worth of Drugs on His Corporate Disney Card

Throughout the first year of working for Disney, Taron reached a breaking point -- and his drug habit took over.

"I spent about $24,000 on Disney's corporate credit card to support my drug habit and my family. I convinced myself I'd pay it back, but I was getting in over my head."

Taron was able to hide it at first, but over time, it became more and more difficult.

In 2018, Taron took a stranger's advice and decided to come clean. He admitted what he had been doing to his manager.

" I was terrified I'd get fired or go to jail, but Disney offered me the greatest gesture of love anyone could've shown me."

Instead of firing Taron, Disney gave him the opportunity to pay the money back with a formal warning. According to Taron, "This was a big turning point in my life.

He came clean to his family as well, and they gave him a loan to pay it back. And, over the next year, Taron did.

Inspired to go to rehab, Taron tried. But failed six times.

Where Taron Found Redemption.

In 2018, struggling with addiction despite hitting "rock bottom", Taron found himself stranded with no gas or money, and only 10 days left to return to work from "another medical leave of absence."

"Addiction led me to push away all my friends and family. I feared I was about to lose the only constant left in my life: my job at Disney."

But, luckily, Taron Googled "rehab for professionals" and called for help. A friend Ubered him to a rehab facility in Tustin, California, and from there, his life began to improve.

Although Taron had been to rehab six times prior, in his words, "something was different about this rehab experience."

"When I walked into this rehab facility, my imagination convinced me I was seeing important people from my childhood. In group therapy, the facilitator looked like the first teacher I had in America after immigrating from Armenia. Memories from my childhood flooded back when I saw her. Hearing her soothing voice teleported my mind to fourth grade. I felt like a child again. She reminded me of my innocence — of the person I was before my addiction. My chin quivered. I had somehow forgotten the fact that I was not born addicted to drugs."

Throughout group rehab sessions "that changed [Taron's] life", he was finally able to make strides in kicking his addiction.

"In this group session, people read stories that deeply resonated with me. The stories felt like they were written just for me. I couldn't stop crying. I felt like the main character in my own Disney movie."

The people in rehab reminded Taron of his humanity.

"Of course, Disney had nothing to do with my rehab stay. But, the company's compassion in not kicking me to the curb at one of the lowest points made me believe in my ability to change for the first time."

Where is Taron Now?

After a successful rehabilitation, Taron moved back in with his family to "heal the rift in our relationship".

"I extended the same understanding and forgiveness that I'd received to my own family"

And, although Taron doesn't work at Disney anymore, over the past four years, he and his family have been able to reconcile their differences, moving closer to one another each day.

Taron owes this milestone in his life to the second chance he received from Disney.

"Had it not been for Disney's impact on my life, I may not have healed from my addiction or my relationship with my family. Although I no longer work for the company, I'm grateful to Disney for unlocking the power of my imagination and giving me a second chance at life."

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