Just before the new year, my mom was diagnosed with dementia. I was the head chef of a small neighborhood bar. I have known my boss (the owner) for over 25 years. When he bought the place, I completely redid the menu and the kitchen. Everything from scratch. We made it through the pandemic. His business thrived because of my menu.
When I got my mom's diagnosis, I asked for a brief leave so that I could deal with placing my mom in a home. I am alone in this and have no idea what I'm doing or how long it could take. I didn't think it would be an issue because we've helped other employees through worse before.
He told me I should quit, and that he wasn't legally obligated to fulfill the FMLA requirements because it was a business with less than 40 employees.
I did my best to do my job and also take care of my mom, and at the end of June he told me he wanted to go in a new direction with a new (completely inexperienced) chef. So, I was fired. I got a severance and was told he wouldn't contest unemployment. So I would have a few months to figure everything out and put my mom in a home.
I'm getting fucked over by unemployment, hopefully just short -term, and I just found out from one of my old cooks that they're going to all pre-made frozen shit. I worked really hard to make everything from scratch, which is what helped build the business. I hate to think of the community I built over the last decade being disappointed. It just sucks.
Asking for some good energy sent my way. Hoping benefits come through soon and I can find a place to put my mom.
It's been a month. It took me a few weeks to realize that I was in the denial stage of grief. I'm angry and sad and feel like it could have been done better. I don't know where to go from here. Dammit, I just want to make good food. I hate to think of what I've built up over the last 10 years being trampled because someone wants to make a few more bucks.