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I just think I'd have trouble sleeping at night if I fired someone for this reason, that's all.
Unlike the boss at the OP's company, that makes you a member of the human race. I'd be in the same position as you. I'd NEVER forgive myself. Nor should this boss. EVER. If you believe in a higher power, he won't forgive you for this, and he shouldn't.
I once worked for a company where both I, and the company prez, who regarded me as a "quasi son" treated a long-term employee cavalierly when she was leaving. She had come in at times weekends included, against a doctors advice. Super dedicated. He was, as I was than, active in the Roman Catholic Church. He knew how I felt, and hated to hear it, when after discussing his unethical treatment, I left his office saying "Don't forget church on Sunday". He still offered me a reference 4 weeks later when I left, and I told him to put it in a certain orifice, reminding him of his prior actions.
The message to him was the same one most corps lose in the heat of the moment. Doing the right thing when the going gets toughest is both the only moral thing to do, and long-term, the better thing to do for the bottom line.
I'd bet the OP is not the sole person at his corp having doubts about his employer. Again, a $50k base spot, costs $70k with benes, the first 6 months of a hire are a loss-that costs you $35k, plus another $15k for the recruiter. So anyone who changes their view at a corp over a reprehensible action like this cost the company $50k.
I'd strongly advise the OP to seek a new job, and get liked minded friends at the company to do the same. I cannot imagine what future moral boundary they would hesitate to cross.
Consider the size of a family. Consider what it does when someone needs help.
There's a lot of sacrifices to be made, and I'm pretty sure there's very few extended families that even come close to having 250 people. Even with turnover, such a company should easily be able to make the sacrifice of having someone taking an extended leave of absence. If not, the company was spread way too thin to begin with.
I think that company clearly does not really value its employees.
I'm jumping in a bit late, but I think you should let her go. Under no circumstances should this be tolerated; and I absolutely believe in the slippery slope argument. It is sad it is happening, but too bad. Life is tough and she shouldn't expect anyone to help her, ever. If it were me I would let her go sooner rather than later, even though it might temporarily put you in a bind. I believe that a person's worth is tied directly to their work - if her work suffers, her value diminishes. That's her value as an employee and a person. I manage several people, and I wouldn't want a person who isn't worth my time working for me. If they have other priorities, then they have to suffer the consequences that come with preferring to loaf and freeload. Ask yourself this: would you want someone working for you whose main goal IS NOT maximizing your bottom line? If the answer is no, then you know what to do. If the answer is yes, and I'll get flamed for saying this, then you need to reconsider your priorities as a businessperson. You need to send a message to your staff - this isn't tolerated, and if they get so much as an inkling to pull something like this, they will be crushed. The hammer needs to not just drive the nail in; in this instance it should be pulverized.
I'm jumping in a bit late, but I think you should let her go. Under no circumstances should this be tolerated; and I absolutely believe in the slippery slope argument. It is sad it is happening, but too bad. Life is tough and she shouldn't expect anyone to help her, ever. If it were me I would let her go sooner rather than later, even though it might temporarily put you in a bind. I believe that a person's worth is tied directly to their work - if her work suffers, her value diminishes. That's her value as an employee and a person. I manage several people, and I wouldn't want a person who isn't worth my time working for me. If they have other priorities, then they have to suffer the consequences that come with preferring to loaf and freeload. Ask yourself this: would you want someone working for you whose main goal IS NOT maximizing your bottom line? If the answer is no, then you know what to do. If the answer is yes, and I'll get flamed for saying this, then you need to reconsider your priorities as a businessperson. You need to send a message to your staff - this isn't tolerated, and if they get so much as an inkling to pull something like this, they will be crushed. The hammer needs to not just drive the nail in; in this instance it should be pulverized.
Welcome to employment 'at will' folks! Happy now?
I basically gave time limitation but in a much less hostile way.
I work in a big company with around 275-300 employees. Everyone is entitled to a month leave of absence during the first three months of the year.
One part-time employee had a mother dying of cancer. There was no definite date set as to when she would die, so it could have taken months, maybe even longer.
Well this employee took a whole month off to care for her mother, and when she asked to extend her unpaid leave, my company basically did not give her the option of doing that. Their philosophy is basically an employee can only have unpaid undetermined leave of absence for dying spouses or children. Other close family is not allowed, even if you live with them.
Do you think this is wrong? Or would granting this employee an undetermined leave open the doors for other employees leaving to take care of close dying relatives?
Several things:
With any terminal illness, there is never a definite date set as to when someone is to die, but especially cancer as people can go into remission several times and then finally succumb to cancer.
Second, she already took an entire month off to care for the parent, as allowed by company policy.
The rule is that only spouses and children qualify for this undetermined leave. Very few companies in the world today in this economy will give anybody "undetermined leave". Are you serious? I think she should be grateful she got that at all. She should find a hospice/home health aide or other family to help. She is a part timer on top of that. Otherwise, f*n resign.
I have been underemployed for 3 years. I would literally give an arm or leg for her job. Put me out on an operating table, take my arm in exchange for her job. She's ungrateful and is trying to take advantage. There are at least 500 people who would take her job in a heartbeat, with lower pay and without bennies. And she wants MORE leave? - Where do these people come from...
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She's ungrateful and is trying to take advantage. There are at least 500 people who would take her job in a heartbeat, with lower pay and without bennies. And she wants MORE leave? - Where do these people come from...
