My coworker and I each run departments situated next to each other. A few weeks ago, she had a death in the family, and was out of work for the funeral. Yesterday, another family member died. She apparently showed up to work today before a manager saw her in tears and told her she should head out for the day.
The company founder has been pacing in and out of my office, asking me when I think she'll be back. I responded that she should take as long as she needs to grieve and support her family. He commented about her workload piling up and past-due orders, adding, “How long could she possibly need to take? I've gone to more funerals than she ever has” (he's very old) “and they only take a day.”
I couldn't come up with anything else to add, so I just repeated what I said before. Does anyone have any suggestions of what I can say tomorrow, when he inevitably complains again, to stun him into shutting the fuck up?
Before anyone adds on about looking for a new job: I'm way ahead of you.