Hartington, we are saying the same thing. The name I use is a diminutive of my second name. I.e. I'm known as Sec even though my name in my passport is Primary Secoundous ExXB.
For years I travelled on tickets issued to Sec ExXB, no issues. But had I tried to travel on a ticket for Tertiary ExXB, or for Sec EzZB I'd be out of luck. The requirement for a match was there but loosely interpreted.
The rules were a lot looser for AD and ID tickets, which might explain your ex-employer. I had a briefcase full of OAL passes that I would use some, or all of, as needs required. No sequential or complete use rules for these tickets. They were free after all. I even used a few after they expired.