For nearly six years, I had been a manager, always convinced that I was fair—firm, yes, but fair. Rules exist for a reason, and I believed consistency was key to maintaining order. That mindset guided my decision when I had to let Celia go last week.
She had been late again—her third time this month. Our company policy was clear: three violations, and termination follows. When I called her into my office, she didn’t argue. She simply nodded, gathered her belongings, and left quietly.
Later that day, I overheard two coworkers talking. “Did you hear about Celia’s situation?” one of them asked. “Yeah,” the other replied. “She’s been facing some really tough times.”
That’s when I learned the truth. Celia had been struggling with serious personal challenges. She had no support system, and she was doing her best to care for her young son. The reason for her tardiness? Every morning, she had to travel across town to access resources before ensuring her child made it to school on time.
I felt a deep sense of regret. I had made a decision based on policy, but I hadn’t taken the time to understand the person behind the rule.
Determined to make things right, I reached out to her. She didn’t answer my calls or messages, but I didn’t want to give up. I started contacting local support services, hoping someone could connect me with her.
Eventually, I found her in a parking lot, sitting in her car with her son. When she recognized me, her expression was unreadable.
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