Work, Friends and Funerals: Empathy 101

Empathy 101

By Anonymous - 16/05/2022 04:00

Today, I was supposed to attend my best friend's funeral. When I asked my boss for time off, she actually said friends don't justify having the day off, unlike say a blood relative. My boss is autistic, so she struggles to understand certain things, but even for her that was a real prick thing to say. FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 853

You deserved it 305

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The sociopaths amongst us

By Anonymous - 26/10/2023 22:00

Today, my boss is such an unfeeling asshole that he seriously thought he could demand I only stay at my best friend's funeral for 45 minutes then return to work, because it was “just a friend, not a relative', and that when his mother died he "took a whole 2 hours off and was back at work by 11:45.” FML

I agree, your life sucks 578

You deserved it 90

By GLHan - 07/03/2014 22:31 - United States - Commack

Today, I asked my boss for a few days off next week, because my grandmother passed away yesterday and I'll need to travel to attend the funeral. His response: "She's dead, you're not. You want time off, then quit." FML

I agree, your life sucks 61 383

You deserved it 3 838

Thanks, I hate it

By CakeEater - 13/05/2022 04:00

Today, after I let my job know I needed time off for a friend's funeral a week ahead of time and they declined to approve it, telling me to call in sick, the day of the funeral arrived and I called in sick, only to come back to a write-up and threats of being fired for not getting it approved in advance. FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 182

You deserved it 89

Entitled

By RachelD - 17/07/2021 18:01 - United States

Today, I can’t make it to my friend’s birthday party because my dog died this morning. I called my friend to inform her and she screamed at me because a "dumb animal" is more important than her best friend. Oh, and she asked me if that also means she won’t be getting a present. FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 467

You deserved it 134

By ugh - 15/01/2016 16:08 - United States

Today, I told one of my teachers I have to attend a family member's funeral on a day she's passing a test. She straight up asked if I could reschedule it, and if not if I could just give it a miss. FML

I agree, your life sucks 23 361

You deserved it 1 447

By soontobemurder - 03/05/2017 18:00

Today, my boss took back my week off because he wants to take a spontaneous Caribbean vacation with his wife, which is "clearly more important" than what I was going to do. I needed that time off so I could be with my Dad in hospice. FML

I agree, your life sucks 6 810

You deserved it 258

By musicalkitcat - 05/10/2009 15:45 - United States

Today, one of my best friends went into labor 14 days early. I'd told my boss previously about this and that I need to be there for my friend as she doesn't really have any family. My boss will not let me leave work to be there. Why? I didn't give enough notice. FML

I agree, your life sucks 41 077

You deserved it 3 381

Good grief

By Lottie - 04/07/2022 04:00

Today, my boss called me a liar and untrustworthy. Why? Yesterday I went home to grieve, after finding out my father figure is in hospice, but because he's just in hospice and not actually dead yet, that somehow means I lied about his death to get a day off work. What? FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 055

You deserved it 192

Dingus friends

By Anonymous - 25/02/2015 11:51 - United Kingdom

Today, I was telling my friends that I'd gotten a paid position to cover a worker's bereavement leave for the next three weeks. They then called me an insensitive bitch for "profiting from someone else's misfortune." FML

I agree, your life sucks 30 632

You deserved it 2 859

Losing

By unemployed and bereaved - 25/11/2013 05:03 - United Kingdom

Today, my boss claimed that I've been lying to get days off because apparently nobody can be so unlucky as to have three family members die within a month. I'm just that unlucky, and suspended. FML

I agree, your life sucks 54 701

You deserved it 2 831

RichardPencil 30

Monday 16 May 2022 4:33

Take a sick day. Bereavement policies usually only cover family. Think about it -- how do they know if someone is a best friend, a close friend or an acquaintance?

QueenSaru 28

Monday 16 May 2022 5:12

I mean, from a bureaucracy POV, she's right. As Richard said, most companies will only allow bereavement days for family, and even then, usually only close family (parent, sibling) though some will stretch and allow for aunt/uncle/grandparent. Otherwise there's no way for them to prove you're not just dicking them over for the day off. Obviously it sounds like she could have explained herself better and been more sympathetic, but it doesn't sound like she was in the wrong.

Comments

RichardPencil 30

Monday 16 May 2022 4:33

Take a sick day. Bereavement policies usually only cover family. Think about it -- how do they know if someone is a best friend, a close friend or an acquaintance?

VnD 12

Monday 16 May 2022 8:44

Omg, what kind of a sick policy is this? In my country, bereavement leave can be taken for anyone, your friend, your aunty, uncle, your cousin, cousins friend, uncles friend, if you've got the leave, you have the right to use it, no questions asked, policies in overseas suck

RichardPencil 30

Monday 16 May 2022 15:56

Management is always distrustful of labor. They think that workers will take bereavement leave when fictional characters die off.

QueenSaru 28

Monday 16 May 2022 5:12

D J's MOM 17

Monday 16 May 2022 12:24

your friend wasn't family, but your boss was being an ass.

DanielleinDC 33

Tuesday 17 May 2022 0:07

I may have ASD, but I understand why someone would want to attend a friend's funeral. That said, if I were your boss, I'd give you the time off with the understanding that it's coming out of your PTO. Bereavement leave only applies to family step-family, and in-laws. I'm sorry for your loss.