When times get tough, a supportive employer is something indispensable. There's not enough that can be said about a manager who will give you the appropriate amount of time off, not pressure you to come back, and who overall just makes an attempt to understand your circumstances.
Unfortunately, not everyone works for a company like this. In fact, instead of making your life a little easier, some managers insist on making your life hell. A dire example of a boss like this was brought to people's attention only recently with Crystal Reynolds Fisher's story.
Crystal, from Albion, Michigan, was forced to rush her 18-year-old son Jason to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor recently after he became severely ill. At the hospital, Jason was put on life support and Crystal left clueless until she was finally told that the doctors believed her son had sepsis.
Vowing to stay by her son's bedside until he was better, she texted her manager to let her know she wouldn't be coming into work at PS Food Mart. However, things didn't go to plan, with her boss Dawn not accepting her explanation. Responding to the worried mother's text, Dawn wrote "That isn't how we do things, so I'll accept that you're quitting."
The mother then attempted to argue her case, writing back "Ok so how do we do things when my child is on life support? I never said I was quitting so I take it that ur firing me? [sic]" Her manager again responded with a harsh retort, reading: "If you can't come to work that's you quitting."
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In later messages, she continued to say: "I will not get into with you on here but I've been more than accommodating during this allowing schedule changes and such ... There is no reason you can't work and I will not tolerate drama ... End of conversation ... If you aren't there to work your shift tomorrow then I take that as you've quit".
In addition, when asked whether she'd come in if she were in the same situation, the PS Food Mart manager stated: "Yes I would, I still have bills to pay and something to keep me busy and occupied. We don't just get to come and go as we please at Folk Oil. I have tomorrow and Monday covered. Your son is in the best place he can be. I have a store to run and that's my focus".
When the text messages were shared by Crystal on Facebook, it spurred outrage, along with 37,000 reactions, over 71,000 shares and 17,000 comments. The public reaction brought the issue to PS Food Mart's attention and shortly after the company announced that, after investigating, they had let the employee go.
"We investigated and have found that the situation was handled improperly and without the compassion that we value as a company," they wrote. "For that, we are very sorry. As a result of this finding, we took quick action and that manager is no longer employed by PS Food Mart. We have also reaffirmed to our employee that she will be able to take all the time off that she needs during this difficult period. We’d like to thank the public for their concern."