My mum was diagnosed with a terminal illness earlier this year (in her 60s) and has probably a few months left to live according to professionals. She’s permanently at home under care from my dad.
I live interstate away from my parents (3 hours drive) and I’m very early into my career (<1 year). I’m also an only child, with no other cousins/aunts/uncles to rely on.
So far, only ‘senior’ staff have been allowed to WFH, though with my position and tasks, I could definitely WFH. I proposed to my boss if I could be allowed to WFH on a few days every week such as Friday and Monday as I already drive 3 hours and back every weekend – or at least the flexibility to WFH if something like an emergency came up. It explained the situation and it was declined.
One of my colleagues who is more senior than me told me if they were in my shoes, they would just quit.
I would love to quit, but I have rent and bills to pay, nobody else to lean or rely on for financial or mental support, and I’m very early in my career so if I quit, it’s basically starting from scratch again later. I barely have any savings fresh out of uni.
I’ve been performing great at work with my end of year performance reviews, so that’s not the issue either. My mum obviously doesn’t want me to quit either but I just feel a huge sense of guilt.
Idk what to do. Just getting it off my chest.