This isn’t my issue, but a client of mine. She came to my place of work for a massage. She is from out of town, and described to me some of her stressors. A lot of people chat during their massage.
She told me her mother and a friend had passed away recently. She flew into town for the services, and to settle her mother’s estate and what not. Having lost a parent myself when I lived out of state (USA) I connected with her trauma, loss, and responsibilities. You can’t really handle it all in a weekend.
She further explained that her work (she is a nurse) was really upset with her for taking off due to a funeral. (Her mother died- along with a friend)her employer had told her that it’s unfair to leave her coworker ( singular – apparently there is only one other nurse with her skills available in her facility) and that they ‘suppose’ she can take the weekend but will need to work a FEW double shifts when she gets back to give her lone coworker a break. So this coworker is apparently working 24 hours a day. Like what?
I felt compelled to respond with something along the lines of ‘ it’s not your fault the company is understaffed. It’s not your fault you have funerals (plural) to attend.’ To which she reiterated how bad she feels for leaving her coworker alone.
It pained me that her entire being and self worth has been lost to the corporate bull she probably has to deal with. She seemed to feel more awful about having to take off work, and not because she didn’t seem to care about her deaths, but because of corporate brainwashing. She almost seemed zombie like so I am sure and almost hope she was on a decent med for anxiety or mood. Poor woman. My heart breaks for her. I hope she finds a better job someday.
I just wanted to share the lack of compassion corporate America has for workers.