I am not a good boss.

[CapitalGuy]

3 months ago my chief administrative officer's sister died. She had severe lifelong medical issues and he was her caretaker. I stretched company policy to its limits to ensure he had the time off work he needed to deal with that event, then broke a couple rules to give him a couple more days to sort out some related family issues. He had actually wanted to dip into his earned vacation time to deal with those matters but I arranged for him to take time off under the table. He wanted to return to work ASAP because he had shit to do (no pressure from me to do so).

Last week my admin assistant's cat died. She cried so hard for the three days prior, when the cat was sick, that she was barely employable. The day after it had to be put down she came into work but was a mess. Her boss, the guy who had lost his sister, had to drive her home. I made her use her earned vacation time to make up for the lost day.

 

[luv4lust]

3 months ago my chief administrative officer's sister died. She had severe lifelong medical issues and he was her caretaker. I stretched company policy to its limits to ensure he had the time off work he needed to deal with that event, then broke a couple rules to give him a couple more days to sort out some related family issues. He had actually wanted to dip into his earned vacation time to deal with those matters but I arranged for him to take time off under the table. He wanted to return to work ASAP because he had shit to do (no pressure from me to do so).

Last week my admin assistant's cat died. She cried so hard for the three days prior, when the cat was sick, that she was barely employable. The day after it had to be put down she came into work but was a mess. Her boss, the guy who had lost his sister, had to drive her home. I made her use her earned vacation time to make up for the lost day.

well it's not a person, but to a pet owner it's like having your child die. if you have kids put your self in her shoes. would it have hurt your biz to give her that one day?

i've been there had a pet die in my arms then had to go in to work i was useless i didn't ask for time off but i could have used it . 4 hours of sobbing while serving customers was horrible but i couldn't help my self.

 

[CapitalGuy]

Its not a child; its a cat. I have children and I (have had) pets. She is a mother and a grandmother of actual humans. Where do you suggest the line be drawn? I draw it a humans.

 

[Nate1]

3 months ago my chief administrative officer's sister died. She had severe lifelong medical issues and he was her caretaker. I stretched company policy to its limits to ensure he had the time off work he needed to deal with that event, then broke a couple rules to give him a couple more days to sort out some related family issues. He had actually wanted to dip into his earned vacation time to deal with those matters but I arranged for him to take time off under the table. He wanted to return to work ASAP because he had shit to do (no pressure from me to do so).
Last week my admin assistant's cat died. She cried so hard for the three days prior, when the cat was sick, that she was barely employable. The day after it had to be put down she came into work but was a mess. Her boss, the guy who had lost his sister, had to drive her home. I made her use her earned vacation time to make up for the lost day.

Is being "not a good boss" a badge of honor for you?

 

[luv4lust]

Its not a child; its a cat. I have children and I (have had) pets. She is a mother and a grandmother of actual humans. Where do you suggest the line be drawn? I draw it a humans.

well i guess it depends how much you love your pets

 

[Wild Wiglin Willie]

well it's not a person, but to a pet owner it's like having your child die. if you have kids put your self in her shoes. would it have hurt your biz to give her that one day?

i've been there had a pet die in my arms then had to go in to work i was useless i didn't ask for time off but i could have used it . 4 hours of sobbing while serving customers was horrible but i couldn't help my self.

Were you working as an SP while serving customers?

 

[luv4lust]

Were you working as an SP while serving customers?

no i actually have a real job

 

[CapitalGuy]

well i guess it depends how much you love your pets

I loved them madly and was extremely distraught when they died. I also went to work and functioned the way the people who paid me a salary expected me to.

 

[Nate1]

Its not a child; its a cat. I have children and I (have had) pets. She is a mother and a grandmother of actual humans. Where do you suggest the line be drawn? I draw it a humans.

The EA is a human and is suffering a loss--real emotions for her. I would suggest you thread title is wrong. It should be I am a myopic boss.

Do you not think the EA would not have also apreciated some compassion and rewarded you with loyalty?

 

[Wild Wiglin Willie]

The anguish suffered by these two people are severe, a pet is not a person but a person can love a pet as much as a person.

 

[luv4lust]

I loved them madly and was extremely distraught when they died. I also went to work and functioned the way the people who paid me a salary expected me to.

well your stronger than me i guess i'm a weak woman.
i have been thinking of getting another pet but i've been on the fence because i don't want to go through what i did with the last one.

 

[fuji]

I approach these things on a merit basis. If a good employee who has been reliable and does great work tells me they need to take some time off, I glaze over listening to the reason why and just say yes. Good employees get breaks, don't have to explain themselves, get treated like an adult. If they say they need some time off, it's done, no questions asked.

If a problem employee asks the same question they get the third degree and unless I can easily afford to be without their services for the day I say no. Problem employees just don't get any breaks until they prove themselves.

I had an employee complain once that since I let another guy work from home sometimes, he should be able to work from home too. I called him into a meeting room and told him in no uncertain terms that the other guy was one of my best employees and since he delivered high quality results, he got to do whatever he liked. I then pointed out that Mr. Whiner was on the ropes, barely hanging onto his jobs by his finger nails, and was in no position to ask me for favours because even keeping him on the payroll seemed like doing him a favour.

 

[Rockslinger]

Capital Guy, you are a terribe boss. Do you not also provide medical and dental benefits to your EA's cat as the cat is clearly a dependent of your EA. Your EA is defintely entitled to 10 paid days for bereavement leave.

 

[dirkd101]

I see no problem with making cat lady use vacation time. This does not make one a terrible boss.

 

[Mr Deeds]

I am not a good boss.

I have been managing people most of my adult life. I have bent the rules for people on more than one occasion in times of need.I have also not permitted people to take advantage of my good nature. A relative dieing is not the same as cat, or their kids hamster, or the family goldfish who got flushed. You make your dissension you temper it to fit the proper circumstance and dont give it a second thought. Your not a bad boss your running a business.

 

[demien2k5]

Never underestimate the impact that a long-time pet (like a cat or a dog) can have on an individual or a family. Nor should you underestimate the gratitude, respect, and loyalty you will gain as a manager of people in showing genuine empathy to someone suffering the loss of cherished companion. Often times, our own worth in the eyes of others is simply a factor of the degree of empathy and compassion we show those going through what is often a very tough life event. Death is death, no matter how you look at it, and it affects everyone differently.

 

[Rockslinger]

I have bent the rules for people on more than one occasion in times of need.

They will remember you ---- the next time they want you to bend the rules.

 

[JohnLarue]

Its a cat, for Christ sakes !
They come with a limited shelf life
Did she think it was going to out live her?


I would question the emotional stability of an employee who can not function because her cat croaks.
How is she going to react when something bad happens?

 

[Rockslinger]

Its a cat, for Christ sakes !

You don't understand. Some people have an "unusual attraction" to their pets. For example, think of the "monkey lady".

 

[bababuey]

You don't understand. Some people have an "unusual attraction" to their pets. For example, think of the "monkey lady".

yes they may be EXTREMELY upset and distraught etc..... but not fair to compare to the loss of human life. so not reasonable to say "death is death......"