Going to work after being up all night with a sick kid is brutal. You’re so exhausted and worried you can hardly think.
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But, one boss showed recently how understanding he could be when one of his employees came to work under these circumstances.
Bernie Reifkind, the L.A.-based CEO of the recruiting company Premier Search posted about it on Linkedin. The story went viral because every parent could relate.
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The woman, Bernie says, was sitting at her desk at a quarter to eight, crying her eyes out because she had stayed up with her sick child. She had to be at work that day because she had run out of sick days.
What he did next showed true compassion.
I sent her home and promised that she would get paid. In addition, I wrote her a check on the spot for extra money to alleviate her immediate financial worry. She was incredibly grateful. To this day, she is my best employee not just because of her talent but her loyalty.
Here is his post:
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His action allowed this mom to take a breath and get back to her child without fearing she would lose her job or any stability in her finances.
He ended his post with these compassionate words reminding other managers and executives that people aren’t capital or robots. They have lives and lives have problems.
Employers, please understand that most people are carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. Burning the candle at both ends. Trying to make ends meet. Kids, homework, spouses, significant others, elder parents, mortgage payments, auto repairs, etc. The relentlessness of life. People are worried about their jobs. PLEASE reassure your hard working employees that their jobs are secure, whenever possible. Loyalty goes both ways.
Reifkind’s management shows his employees how valuable they are to him. In return, they’ll treat his company with value.
And, his customers will feel the difference.
