I worked for the local funeral home for ten years, starting directly out of high-school. I was on call 2/3 of the time for literally 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I dealt with some of the most traumatic scenes and situations you can imagine, but it didn't matter, I loved it.
The business was super small and I was literally treated like family. If my car broke down my boss would give me one of his so I didn't have to rent. If I was feeling sad that day, no problem, go home for a bit and call me tonight so I know you're okay.
Then they sold to another small company. Suddenly I was under worked, over paid and they expected more from me while removing the privlages I had worked 8 years to get. I would get in big trouble for not answering the phone on my two days out of three weeks I had off. I would be told to just stand there and take it while families yelled in my face. In fact one dude threatened to stab me, literally end my life, and my bosses response was “well, can you finish the funeral?”
I stayed on for two years with them before I had a nervous breakdown. It took me three months at home before I felt safe enough to go back to work. I applied for everything in town that provided the wage I needed to live, and I landed this job.
While I've been there my manager has really shown me how wonderful she is. I told her off the hop, right in my interview that I'm damaged and I need her help to succeed. From day one she has never allowed a client to speak to me in any way that wasn't kind. She doesn't tell them off, she just steps in and takes over (so professional!). She pulls me into her office often to discuss something work related, but always ends up asking me if I'm okay and if she can help.
Yesterday my daddy wound up in the hospital, my husband is dealing with chronic illness and we're broke, I'm pregnant and my household has been sick on and off for two weeks so I've missed so much work while we're short staffed.
She heard me sniffling at my desk because the pressure is just too much. She waited until the office was empty, then poked her head out of her office and told me she'd still pay me for today if I wanted to stay home. I protested because I've already taken so much time being sick and I feel awful leaving our team in a bind (I genuinely love the people I work with, they're amazing). She waved me off and told me “we're fine, I'm going to pay you regardless and you really look like you need the time. I'll see you Monday, feel better okay?”
To have gone from an environment where I was made to feel inadequate every day to this…its just amazing and I am so grateful.