My Wife Was Dying of Brain Cancer. My Boss at Amazon Told Me to Perform or Quit

Post by refurb » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 1:36 AM UTC

lloydgrossman wrote: post #231

refurb wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Medical bankruptcy is still an issue in places with universal healthcare like Canada. Why? Even if all your bills are paid you still have a mortgage, food, etc. And even if you have long-term disability payments, it’s often some fraction of your existing salary requiring you to keep working to pay all the bills.

that's pretty non-sequitur to the situation at hand to the point of wondering why it's being mentioned.

Post by namlem » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 2:06 AM UTC

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #87

ucm_edge wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very much this. You always want to be asking HR for an accommodation that is protected by law. Then HR enters into the mode of protecting the company by ensuring they don't get in trouble for violating the law. You go in and say "Hey my wife is dying and my performance is probably going to be impacted, can something be done?", HR may opt to 'protect' the company by starting to build a case for terminating a low perfo…

> You go in and say "Hey my wife is dying and my performance is probably going to be impacted, can something be done?", HR may opt to 'protect' the company by starting to build a case for terminating a low performing employee. That’s the cynical approach, but most companies don’t actually want to lose valuable employees. This is why they have disability insurance coverage in the first place to help cover those gaps (…

Post by junar » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 2:27 AM UTC

alberth wrote: post #72

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #4

A tip: If anyone finds themselves in a tragic situation like this where they can’t work but also can’t afford to take leave, investigate your short and long-term disability benefits ASAP. Also read up on the documentation necessary to begin disability claims. Engage with a doctor early on who can document the severe depressive symptoms that are preventing work (which the author specifically cites in his anecdote). Do…

In the US, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides certain employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year. It also requires that their group health benefits be maintained during the leave.

Post by krsrhe » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 2:29 AM UTC

iamdbtoo wrote: post #97

rkk3 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He was offered a Family Leave option, but the details aren't shared so it's hard to judge... Terrible situation for the author, but expecting the company to eat the 500k/year he was costing them doesn't seem fair either.

He mentions the family leave option would've left him without any income. No one was asking Amazon not to eat his whole salary, just not expect him to function exactly the same as someone whose wife isn't dying from brain cancer.

Post by 0xy » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 3:02 AM UTC

ajb wrote: post #109

_6hmp wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a forum for people at tech companies to anonymously talk to other people at their companies in a private forum, or with people at other companies publicly to all members. They validate employment using your email address. As could be expected many of the topics devolve into toxic messes, but there is some useful discussion.

Only available to people in the US and South Korea at the moment, apparently. A pity, but I guess they need lawyers in every country they do business in.