Boss wanted me to work the day after my mom died
My mom passed away suddenly on Tuesday. Heart attack, completely unexpected. I was devastated.
I called my boss Wednesday morning to let him know I wouldn't be in and would need a few days for funeral arrangements. His response?
"I'm sorry for your loss, but we have the Johnson presentation on Friday and you're the only one who knows the account. Can you at least work from home today to get it ready?"
I was speechless. I told him I needed time to grieve and handle funeral arrangements. He sighed and said "Look, I get it, but the client is expecting this. Your mom would want you to be professional about this, right?"
That broke something in me. I hung up.
Spent the rest of the day making calls - not about work, but to recruiters I'd connected with months ago. By Thursday I had two phone interviews lined up for next week.
Friday morning he texts me asking where the presentation files are. I responded: "On my work computer. Which I'll be returning Monday along with my resignation."
He called me immediately, backtracking, saying he was just stressed and didn't mean to be insensitive. Offered me a week off and a raise.
I told him some things can't be taken back.
Starting fresh somewhere that treats employees like human beings, not machines.
Jobadvisor
Here’s a rewritten version in a natural, heartfelt, “human” voice while keeping the emotional punch of your story:
My mom died suddenly on Tuesday. Heart attack. No warning. I was in shock.
The next morning, I called my boss to tell him I wouldn’t be in for a few days — I needed time to grieve and take care of funeral arrangements. His response?
“I’m sorry for your loss, but we have the Johnson presentation on Friday and you’re the only one who knows the account. Can you at least work from home today to get it ready?”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I told him I needed time. He sighed and said:
“Look, I get it, but the client is expecting this. Your mom would want you to be professional about this, right?”
That was it for me. Something inside just… snapped. I hung up.
Instead of touching anything work-related, I spent the day calling recruiters I’d spoken to months ago. By Thursday, I had two interviews lined up.
Friday morning, he texted:
“Where are the presentation files?”
I replied:
“On my work computer. Which I’ll be returning Monday along with my resignation.”
He called instantly, apologizing, saying he was stressed, didn’t mean to be insensitive, offering me a week off and a raise.
But some things can’t be undone.
I’m moving on to somewhere that treats people like human beings, not machines.