Is Your Company Worth Dying For?

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Recently, I came down with a terrible case of the flu.  In fact, it was so bad I was nearly hospitalized and stayed in bed for days.  I never stay in bed.  In fact, I hate staying in bed. So while I stayed in bed, my wife took care of me, but I could sense she was trying to avoid getting sick as well.  I knew she had a conference she had to attend in the next few days so she was literally placing food and supplies outside my door like a guard dropping off meals for a prisoner. She would then open the door, slide the food in, and close the door. It's lonely when you're in solitary confinement.

However, I understood why she was reluctant to interact, because she had never seen me this ill.  In fact, I don't think I had ever been quite so ill in my entire life.  Moreover, she had a conference to attend and would be speaking so she didn't want to miss the opportunity.  However as the days passed, she started to cough more, and eventually she contracted the same flu virus as myself.  She called the company she was working with and notified them she couldn't attend.  What was their response to her 103 degree fever and her doctor's notice?

"We need you here whether you're sick or not, you need to attend.", this came from the event coordinator.

"Surely you're joking. Why would I come if I'm sick?  I'll just get everyone else sick.  We work in the medical field, do you know how bad that sounds?", she replied, more than a bit shocked at the coordinator's lack of empathy.

"I know it sounds bad, but it looks worse that you're one of our key speakers and you're not going to show up because of a little flu."

My wife's patience had run out and I'm sure her fever wasn't helping, "A little flu! A little flu! You call a 103.4 degree fever a little flu?  That is absurd.  I have a signed note from my doctor stating he doesn't want me to fly.  What do you propose I do?"

"We are all sick. Just take some Day-Quil and get on a plane like everyone else.", apparently the event coordinator did not have a degree in bed side manners.

My wife fumed, "What?! I'm in complete shock.  Not from the fever, but from your apparent candor or should I say lack of understanding.  I'm sorry but I am in no condition to fly and despite my obligation to the company, I'm staying home.  You'll have to find someone else to fill in for me."

"Well if you're not going to come than I will speak to our management team about your relationship with the company and if we want to continue as partners."

"You don't have to do that.  I understand that this puts the company in a bind and I'm sorry, but I'm sick and there's nothing more to be said. I'm not willing to risk my health or that of others so best of luck at your meeting."

"So you're not coming? This is bad."

"No I'm not coming. I think I made that clear, and bad or not I will definitely be making some calls of my own.  Good luck with your meeting.  I need to get some rest now."

"Wait.  So what should I do?"

"Maybe you should call one of your speakers who isn't sick. I'm going to get some rest like my doctor told me.  Good bye."

I was amazed that she didn't throw her cell phone to the ground.  I rarely see my wife angry, but she was sick and now she was fuming.

"What the hell do they expect me to do?  Die for their stupid company?  I'm not even an employee!  I can't imagine how they treat their employees.  That was ridiculous. I'm never speaking for them again.  In fact, I'm not sure I'm going to use any of their devices ever again."

I thought long and hard about what she said, and in some cases companies do expect there employees to come in sick, to work through pain, and for what?  Nothing really, except to show their work ethic and loyalty to the company.

However you have to wonder if that loyalty is ever returned...think of the loyalty a company would earn if it was reciprocated.  A little empathy goes a long way, but a lack of empathy can sever even the best of relationships.

-SFTD