As a manager, I’ve always prided myself on being fair and consistent. But recently, I was forced to confront the harsh reality that my rigid adherence to rules had almost destroyed the life of one of my employees, Celia, a single mother struggling to make ends meet.
It started when Celia was late to work for the third time in a month. Our company policy is clear: three strikes, and you’re out. I called her into my office, and with a sense of detached duty, I fired her. She didn’t argue or protest, just nodded and left.
But as the day went on, I began to hear whispers about Celia’s situation. She had been evicted from her home, and she and her six-year-old son were living in her car. The reason she was late was that she had to drive across town to find a place to shower before dropping her son off at school.
I felt a wave of shame and regret wash over me. I had judged Celia without knowing the full story, and my actions had just made her situation even more desperate.
I knew I had to make things right. I tried calling Celia, but she didn’t answer. I sent her a text, but she didn’t respond. I even went to the address we had on file, but she had already been evicted.
Determined to find her, I started searching online for any leads. I called shelters, food banks, and churches, hoping someone might know where she was. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I got a break. 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 she was living in her car with her son. I knocked on the window, and when she saw me, her expression was a mix of anger and resignation.
But as I apologized and begged for forgiveness, something shifted. Celia began to open up, sharing her story and her struggles. I listened, and for the first time, I saw her not just as an employee, but as a person.
I offered Celia her job back, but I knew that wasn’t enough. I promised to help her get back on her feet, using my connections to find her a new place to live and accessing resources to support her and her son.
Over the next few weeks, I worked tirelessly to make good on my promises. And as I did, I saw Celia begin to heal and rebuild. She started to smile again, and her eyes regained their sparkle.
One day, she came into my office, and with tears in her eyes, she thanked me for seeing her, for hearing her story. In that moment, I realized that compassion and understanding are just as important as rules and policies.
As managers, as colleagues, and as human beings, we have a responsibility to look beyond the surface, to see the struggles and challenges that people are facing. We have the power to make a difference, to offer kindness and support instead of judgment and condemnation.
Celia’s story taught me a valuable lesson: that everyone deserves to be seen, to be heard, and to be understood. And that sometimes, breaking the rules is the right thing to do.
