Specific Metro Q Card question

My job gave me a Q card to use for getting to work and I used it for the first time today. I was able to get my place of work using the redline to the medical center from the employee parking lot but got a “no passback” when I tried going back on the red line after work. I tried looking up no passback but didn’t get any results and ended up walking. The machines were unable to check the balance as well. I tried 3 different stations and got the same “no passback.” Is the card just a 1-way or am I misunderstanding something?

Edit: This was on the metro rail.