An employee faced an unsympathetic response from his boss after he took a day off work following a devastating house fire. The employee, who lost nearly all his belongings in the fire, understandably needed time to deal with the aftermath. However, his boss refused to compensate him for the missed day, arguing that he wasn’t “technically sick” and therefore could not use a sick day.
The story came to light when Ben Askins, a content creator known for sharing workplace stories, discussed the situation on TikTok. The employee recounted how he lost the contents of his bedroom, including clothes and his bed, due to the fire. The house suffered extensive smoke damage and required cleaning and redecorating. With no clothes to wear and pressing cleanup tasks, the employee took a day off from work. Despite the circumstances, his boss informed him that the day’s pay would be deducted from his salary, as he was not ill and could not use a sick day.
Askins criticized the company’s lack of compassion, pointing out that businesses have a choice when personal crises impact their employees’ professional lives. They can either demonstrate care and support, as often advertised in their marketing materials, or worsen the situation by refusing to help. In this case, the company chose the latter, exacerbating the stress the employee was already under.
“Can you imagine how stressful this is?” Askins asked in his video. “You’ve lost all your clothes, dealing with landlords, dealing with firemen, dealing with insurance. That is a [expletive] stressful situation!” He also questioned the boss’s rationale, asking if they genuinely believed many employees would face house fires and demand similar accommodations, highlighting the absurdity of the decision.
The story sparked widespread criticism online, with many condemning the boss’s evident lack of sympathy. Commenters on TikTok shared their own experiences of receiving support from employers during personal crises, contrasting sharply with this employee’s situation. One user mentioned being granted compassionate leave when their father had a stroke, while another suggested that the employee should start looking for a new job immediately.
The incident underscores the importance of compassion in the workplace. Employers who support their employees during challenging times not only boost morale and loyalty but also foster a more engaged and committed workforce. Providing extra sick days or time off for personal emergencies should be a standard practice, reflecting the value placed on employee well-being and safety.
