Thanks to a link provided by Earthbound Misfit, we learn of the unconscionable conduct of Haynes Management, a property management firm in Wellesley, Massachusetts. AOL News reports:
Massachusetts accountant Carl Sorabella had every reason to believe that his employer would grant his request for a more flexible schedule so that he could assist his wife, who had just been diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer and given only months to live. After all, he’d been with Haynes Management in Wellesley, for 13 years, and had just been given a raise in November.
But instead of a more accommodating schedule, he got a pink slip in response to his request, even though he had made it clear that he was willing to work nights and weekends to make up for the time he intended to spend taking his wife in for treatments and tests.
. . .
… he says that his boss was afraid that if Sorabella wasn’t there during regular business hours it could cause problems.
“It’s business. I’m running a company here, and I need to make sure the department runs,” she told him. Sorabella said that he assured her that he would see that the company runs well, working at any hour of the day or night to make up for the time he spent caring for his wife, but to no avail.
There’s more at the link. A follow-up report is available here, regrettably showing no improvement in Haynes Management’s attitude (as evidenced by their weaselly statement).
Here’s a TV news report about the incident. Please take the time to watch it. Remember, this could happen to you, too.
I wonder if the proprietors and administrators of Haynes Management have ever heard of the Golden Rule?
It’s not difficult to remember, or to apply. In this case, since Haynes Management has chosen to discard an obviously valued employee like an old dishrag, and leave him and his wife in the lurch to face this ghastly situation, I can only hope that its customers will apply the Golden Rule by treating that firm in precisely the same way.
I’d also like to ask those of my readers who share my anger and contempt at this company to please write or e-mail or telephone Haynes Management to let them know what you think about the situation. I don’t suppose its owners care . . . but it might help any other good people working there to wake up to the fact that if their bosses can treat one employee this way, they can treat all of them just as badly.
Peter
Sleasebags…
At a glance, it sounds like they're trying to weasel their way out of having to deal with having an employee who will actually be using the medical insurance, and therefore raising the rates. Scumbags.
What about FMLA? All the people who work where I work abuse this, but this guy has a genuine reason to take leave. If he's fired for that, he shouldn't have any trouble finding a lawyer who will sue for the slam dunk settlement.
Matt
St Paul
It about adding value for the shareholders. Anything else is dead wood to be cut.
I'm never surprised by these kinds of actions anymore.
Gerry
@Matt: FMLA applies to companies with more than 50 employees. Haynes Management has less than half that number, so FMLA provisions aren't applicable – more's the pity.
Let me get this straight. They want to make sure the department keeps running, so they FIRE THE GUY? That makes no kind of sense.
I've been in his position. My wife fought cancer for a year, and my employer at the time (a division of a quite large corporation) gave me all the time I needed to be with her, take her to the doctor, and everything else that needed to be done. They were great. Not every company has their head up their bum like this one.
I'm sorry. This one hits too close to home.