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Woman Shares How Her Uncle Died And His Work Kept Calling Him To Come In, Inspires Others To Share Their Stories
“Our business is like family,” is mostly just a lot of hot air, but some companies take inhumanity even further. Through stubbornness, indifference, and pure ignorance, some employers just prove time and time again that time and time again, unless it’s related to profit, they are just not concerned.
An internet user shared the story of her uncle, who not only was denied medical leave after learning about his terminal cancer but kept getting angry calls and letters from his previous employer after he passed. Others commiserated in the comments and gave their examples of companies just not caring one bit.
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Despite needing them to actually run the business, employers can be very callous toward their workforce
Image credits: Olga Kononenko (not the actual photo)
An internet user detailed the time her deceased uncle’s company kept sending angry letters asking why he hadn’t come in for work
Image credits: wagonxburnerx
Image credits: wagonxburnerx
Image credits: Pavel Danilyuk (not the actual photo)
Toxic workplaces end up burning out employees in the long run
On the surface, some management will justify their behavior, no matter how callous, uncaring, or rude, as simply necessary in pursuit of the bottom line. A business exists to make money, after all, the workforce’s feelings be damned. On closer inspection, this strategy, even from a purely business perspective, doesn’t hold any water. A toxic management culture has a poisonous, trickle-down effect on the entire workforce. The effect is twofold, employees see that leadership acts this way and begin to associate horrible behavior with the management strategy of the company. Secondly, they begin to burn out faster. It does not take an MBA to know that burnt-out workers, at all levels, are less productive and useful to the company.
A plethora of research indicates that incivility toward workers ultimately leads to quitting, burnout, or worse. Incivility is a very mild way to describe some of the stories listed here by internet users. While it might not be discrimination, a company can mistreat all its workers equally, and being treated like a cog in a machine has long-term consequences for morale. Interestingly, most research suggests that management is well aware of how toxicity creates burnout, but will generally not do anything about it. Since most companies are, by design, top-down affairs, there is no grassroots-level way for workers to “fix” their workplace. The only remaining choice is to leave.
Image credits: energepic.com (not the actual photo)
Leadership positions sometimes bring out the worst in people
Even worse, people with psychopathic tendencies tend to end up in positions of power. Even though they are a general minority of the population, in these positions, their behavior affects distortionary more people. Scholars call these individuals “corporate psychopaths,” and have noted that in recent years, the number of scandals involving upper management has increased. While profits seem to be find a way to not trickle down, bad behavior does, as the aforementioned paragraph indicates. In the reckless pursuit of profit at all costs, workplaces are ‘irradiating’ themselves and leaving workforces more depressed and hostile.
But these stories all point to an even larger problem, a general inhumanity towards others. It’s all well and good to argue that toxic workplaces lower productivity, but they are bad in themselves. Companies are, ultimately, an agglomeration of humans, the vast majority of which don’t like feeling uncared for. Yet put into a management position, these same humans suddenly forget their humanity and will treat employees with comic-book-villain incivility. The unfortunate reality is that managers don’t seem to be willing or able to deal with the problem, even when they are informed both about the toxicity and its effects. The only solution appears to be some form of outside help, be it regulations or unionization.
Image credits: Lukas (not the actual photo)
Commenters gave their examples of pig-headed companies that defied basic decency and even logic
Image credits: itsprettyfresh
Image credits: Amira_Noc
Image credits: Ms_TayTae
Image credits: baffled_hacker
Image credits: Sckit
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Image credits: mzshannonn
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Some people reacted to the ridiculousness of the company and shared their insights on their behavior
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Image credits: Backpfeiffenge2
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Others debated ways workers could protect themselves from unfair treatment
Image credits: Sora Shimazaki (not the actual photo)
Image credits: ibclccowichan
What do you think ?
Limey 2 years ago
These have to be the USA. I know people in this community get upset when people say that… but most of this is not legal and doesn’t happen in countries other than ours (the USA)
Jiminy 2 years ago
My thought exactly. Working in the US sounds like hell...
Load More Replies...
Andy Frobig 2 years ago
I've kind of seen both sides of this coin. My grandfather worked for almost 50 years for an insurance company. He died in 1975, and eleven years later, when his widow was critically ill and on her deathbed, every dime of her medical expenses were covered by Grandpa's old employer. It still boggles my mind. On the flip side, I worked for a place where the overnight crew was locked in until the receivers showed up in the morning. A night worker had an asthma attack one night, and his manager told him to go lie down on a table in the break room until it passed. At another job, I was out on disability for three months, recovering from an accident. When I came back I found out my wage and benefits had gone back to day 1. The HR manager told me she'd terminated and rehired me, and I was lucky she even did that. She was fired soon after and my pay and benefits got bumped back up to what they should have been.
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
When I was a front line supervisor for the US Postal Service, my manager directed me to fire one of my mail handlers for being absent during his 90-day probationary period. His absence was due to his wife being in hospital fighting cancer. I refused and told my manager why. Surprisingly, he backed off. (After I went back to being a mail handler, my supervisor tried to fire me whilst I was sick and absent on approved Family Medical Leave. My union reamed her a new one. The USPS was a horrible place to work.)
Michael Largey 2 years ago
My father died suddenly after working for a large corporation for 26 years, leaving a wife and five children. When my mom applied to receive his pension, the company replied "You have to live to receive a pension." and just put the money in its pocket. (This was before laws about being vested in a pension.) The company had taken a large life insurance policy on my dad and a small one. It was the beneficiary of the large one.
James016 2 years ago
A couple of years ago one of my colleagues in the Philippines died of Covid. He was only 33, engaged and just got his passport. We had an online memorial for him in the dept while an email sent out to all employees worldwide was sent out by the CEO who then paid his respects in the next company meeting. His manager who had to break the news to us was in bits. We also did a collection to pass on to his mum and sister. His role has so far not been replaced. We were allowed to take that afternoon and the next day off if we needed it to process the news.
Sabrina Fisher 2 years ago
At my last job, my mom passed away unexpectedly. In the shock, I forgot to call out of work. My supervisor called me to ask why I was an hour late and I explained, she wanted to know how late I would be. I asked for the day to process the loss of my mother. She told me not to be late the following day or it would be a write up. I was given no time to grieve but unfortunately, needed the money more than ever.
PandaPops 2 years ago
Im in the UK. My grandfather recently passed away unexpectedly in the hospital I work in. I was allowed to take as much time as needed as I couldnt face going in. I was told to take until after the funeral as I needed to grieve properly. It was about 6 weeks bereavement leave in the end and upon my return I was asked how I am, if im ok, and if there is anything the senior team could do to help me get back on my feet. I dont understand all these disgusting places of employment putting undue pressure on people.
Jay Weigel 2 years ago
1. One of my co-workers at my last job had meningitis and was hospitalized for 2 weeks in the same hospital where we worked, on the floor right below ours. When she returned to work she was called into the supervisor's office and written up for "excessive absences". 2. Same supervisor called me on my personal phone in another state when I was on compassionate leave after my father died, demanding to know where I was. I had notified the house supervisor of his death before I left and that I would be gone until after the next weekend (I worked weekends only, but left right after I finished the previous one). I told her my dad had died and I'd previously notified the house supervisor, and she said "I suppose we can grant you compassionate leave, when are you coming back?" I told her I would be back the next weekend I was scheduled.
Vermontah 2 years ago
The majority of these are because of health. I worked in a social service and met families that became homeless because of medical bills, losing your job. Life crapped on rhem. now what? Salvation Army ran out of funds in 1 day. and another company, I won't name it but they have a Way of being United, spends most its money on company perks. Also, senior citizens losing their home for medical. It started scaring the bejeezus out me to see this with no resource for them. What if it happens to me?
Limey 2 years ago
These have to be the USA. I know people in this community get upset when people say that… but most of this is not legal and doesn’t happen in countries other than ours (the USA)
Jiminy 2 years ago
My thought exactly. Working in the US sounds like hell...
Load More Replies... Andy Frobig 2 years ago
I've kind of seen both sides of this coin. My grandfather worked for almost 50 years for an insurance company. He died in 1975, and eleven years later, when his widow was critically ill and on her deathbed, every dime of her medical expenses were covered by Grandpa's old employer. It still boggles my mind. On the flip side, I worked for a place where the overnight crew was locked in until the receivers showed up in the morning. A night worker had an asthma attack one night, and his manager told him to go lie down on a table in the break room until it passed. At another job, I was out on disability for three months, recovering from an accident. When I came back I found out my wage and benefits had gone back to day 1. The HR manager told me she'd terminated and rehired me, and I was lucky she even did that. She was fired soon after and my pay and benefits got bumped back up to what they should have been.
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
When I was a front line supervisor for the US Postal Service, my manager directed me to fire one of my mail handlers for being absent during his 90-day probationary period. His absence was due to his wife being in hospital fighting cancer. I refused and told my manager why. Surprisingly, he backed off. (After I went back to being a mail handler, my supervisor tried to fire me whilst I was sick and absent on approved Family Medical Leave. My union reamed her a new one. The USPS was a horrible place to work.)
Michael Largey 2 years ago
My father died suddenly after working for a large corporation for 26 years, leaving a wife and five children. When my mom applied to receive his pension, the company replied "You have to live to receive a pension." and just put the money in its pocket. (This was before laws about being vested in a pension.) The company had taken a large life insurance policy on my dad and a small one. It was the beneficiary of the large one.
James016 2 years ago
A couple of years ago one of my colleagues in the Philippines died of Covid. He was only 33, engaged and just got his passport. We had an online memorial for him in the dept while an email sent out to all employees worldwide was sent out by the CEO who then paid his respects in the next company meeting. His manager who had to break the news to us was in bits. We also did a collection to pass on to his mum and sister. His role has so far not been replaced. We were allowed to take that afternoon and the next day off if we needed it to process the news.
Sabrina Fisher 2 years ago
At my last job, my mom passed away unexpectedly. In the shock, I forgot to call out of work. My supervisor called me to ask why I was an hour late and I explained, she wanted to know how late I would be. I asked for the day to process the loss of my mother. She told me not to be late the following day or it would be a write up. I was given no time to grieve but unfortunately, needed the money more than ever.
PandaPops 2 years ago
Im in the UK. My grandfather recently passed away unexpectedly in the hospital I work in. I was allowed to take as much time as needed as I couldnt face going in. I was told to take until after the funeral as I needed to grieve properly. It was about 6 weeks bereavement leave in the end and upon my return I was asked how I am, if im ok, and if there is anything the senior team could do to help me get back on my feet. I dont understand all these disgusting places of employment putting undue pressure on people.
Jay Weigel 2 years ago
1. One of my co-workers at my last job had meningitis and was hospitalized for 2 weeks in the same hospital where we worked, on the floor right below ours. When she returned to work she was called into the supervisor's office and written up for "excessive absences". 2. Same supervisor called me on my personal phone in another state when I was on compassionate leave after my father died, demanding to know where I was. I had notified the house supervisor of his death before I left and that I would be gone until after the next weekend (I worked weekends only, but left right after I finished the previous one). I told her my dad had died and I'd previously notified the house supervisor, and she said "I suppose we can grant you compassionate leave, when are you coming back?" I told her I would be back the next weekend I was scheduled.
Vermontah 2 years ago
The majority of these are because of health. I worked in a social service and met families that became homeless because of medical bills, losing your job. Life crapped on rhem. now what? Salvation Army ran out of funds in 1 day. and another company, I won't name it but they have a Way of being United, spends most its money on company perks. Also, senior citizens losing their home for medical. It started scaring the bejeezus out me to see this with no resource for them. What if it happens to me?
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