As a manager, I’ve always prided myself on being fair but firm. However, a recent experience taught me that sometimes, being fair means bending the rules and showing compassion.
It started when I fired Celia, a single mom, for being late to work for the third time. She didn’t argue or protest, just quietly packed her things and left. It wasn’t until later, when I overheard coworkers whispering about Celia’s situation, that I realized the gravity of my mistake.
Celia and her six-year-old son had been evicted from their home and were living in their car. She was late to work because she had to drive across town to find a place for them to shower before dropping her son off at school. My heart sank as I realized that I had just made her situation even more desperate.
I couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt and regret. I knew I had to make things right. I tried calling Celia, but she didn’t answer. I even drove to her last known address, but she was no longer there. It seemed like I might be too late to make amends.
Determined to find her, I started calling shelters and food banks, asking if anyone had seen her. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I got a lead. A woman at a local church told me that Celia had been there a few nights ago, picking up food and blankets.
I tracked Celia down to a grocery store parking lot, where I found her and her son living in their car. I knocked on the window, and when she rolled it down, I apologized profusely for my mistake. I offered her job back and promised to help her get back on her feet.
At first, Celia was skeptical, and rightly so. But as I explained that I wanted to help her, not just give her a paycheck, she began to open up. I connected her with resources for affordable housing, food assistance, and childcare. Slowly but surely, Celia began to rebuild her life.
As I reflected on the experience, I realized that I had been so focused on following the rules that I had forgotten to be human. I had judged Celia without knowing her story, and it almost cost her everything.
This experience taught me that kindness shouldn’t come with conditions. Sometimes, breaking the rules is the right thing to do. As a manager, I’ve learned to approach situations with compassion and empathy, rather than just following protocol.
If there’s one thing I’ve taken away from this experience, it’s that everyone has a story, and sometimes, all they need is someone to listen.
