Losing someone and support from work.

Hi coffeeshot! Sorry to hear about your grandma..I do really hope you can spend some time with her. When my mother got really sick years ago, I was fortunate enough that my business partner was very supportive with me. He has given me all the time that I need to care for my mother from the time she got sick until the time she passed away. I still went to check the business and work from time to time. I needed the work to at least give me some relief from the sadness and grief I felt during the last days with my mother. However, I have also so much time to spend with my mother and care for her. I am glad that I had a very supportive business partner who did all the work needed to be done during those times. Take care and have a great day! loveslot..faith

Oh my, that's pathetic if they know you are telling the truth. THey may think you are making it up-I mean think about it, You said you needed to visit your grandma, a lot of people don't care that much. They need to be supportive of your request though. Every place I've ever worked has been helpful with those situations. I don't know if they can stop you...you may not want to keep working there.

It pretty much depends in what field you are working in... and for who you are working for. But when the chips are down... it only comes down to one thing. The more valuable you are to the company... the nicer they will be to you. If you can be easily replace... They will treat you like sh*t. That's life. If you want to be respected... You need to be the best at what you do.

Most workplaces I have known have not shown much sympathy for workers in their bereavement and many have tried to prevent people from taking even the leave that was promised them. I think the employers are foolish to be greedy at such a time, and that it is not good for "business." I think they should be frugal elsewhere and at least treat grieving employees with basic integrity and respect. It doewsn't often happen though.

Hi coffee, sorry to hear this, fortunatley I have never been in such a position at work, but to be honest with you whatever they said I would go and see her, take the day as holiday. or just miss your shift, tough luck on them for trying to make you do something you didn't want to at the time am sure they could be without you for a day...at one time I was working for a supermarket and was going through a bitter divorce as well as fighting for the tenancy of my house it affected me badly, I handed in my notice but my mangeress asked me to get sick leave and she would keep my job open for me..infact she almost begged me not to leave but to have time off sick. yet I didn't I did leave, but I had so much support from my manageress she was fantastic, but as for you they cannot sack you for having one day off to visit your dying Grandma, they can do nothing about it...littleowl

I think you should be entitled to a few days' compassionate leave. In the public service in Australia, you're entitled to have that. It's horrible if you work in a small company where they can't afford to have you away - but I suggest going to your doctor and telling him how upset you are, and he'll give you a doctor's certificate saying you need the days off to spend with your grandmother. Good luck!