How does an organization ensure valuable employees are taken care of?

[JBDU010969]

Thank you very much for your quick response

[Wes Bucey]

In Reply to Parent Post by biboy2012

My officemate notified his supervisor that he will be taking emergency leave of absence without pay and try to find some sort of way to get some money because his mother was sent for an emergency treatment of an ailment. The COO told the CEO that he (officemate) didn't show up for work.. he said he didn't have enough money. The COO said however he did show up for his paycheck and bought some smokes even though the COO knew that he was a smoker (COO is a smoker too, they usually see each other at the smoking area) so not surprising if he bought some smokes. But it doesn't erase the fact that there was an emergency, and therefore, he shoudn't be penalized for taking personal emergency leave. There was a conflict between the COO and my officemate. Unfortunately, instead of just try to get over it my officemate is resigning.

What should I advise him?

How did office mate [or ANYBODY] learn of snide comment by COO to prompt resignation?
That dynamic of transmission is critical to whether office mate is justified in leaving or whether he was "pushed" to resign by someone.

Without going into a long harangue, the snide remark by the COO to the CEO about the cigarette purchase should have remained private between those two. The fact both you and office mate are privy implies a bad work atmosphere where things which ought to be private are grist for the rumor and gossip mill - not generally a place where folks are happy working.

There are other items in this specific post copied above which are confusing:

1. If the guy takes leave without pay, where is he going to get money for mom's treatment? rob a bank?
2. Did office mate not showing up to work, only to retrieve a check, mean he was out at pawn shops selling possessions? at blood bank selling blood? looking for better paying job?
3. Is the COO the office mate's direct supervisor? If not, maybe he only knew part of the story - the part where the guy collects a check.
4. Depending on the total size of the organization, it may be understandable there are no standing policies for dealing with an unpaid leave of absence. Small organizations typically operate ad hoc as situations arise.
5. Some responsibility for current situation rests with office mate who appears to have panicked in presenting his situation without making his needs and wants clear. Major responsibility falls on supervisors who seem to have displayed zero empathy for the plight of office mate, seeming to consider office mate "disposable."

[biboy2012]

In Reply to Parent Post by Wes Bucey

How did office mate [or ANYBODY] learn of snide comment by COO to prompt resignation?
That dynamic of transmission is critical to whether office mate is justified in leaving or whether he was "pushed" to resign by someone.

The CEO who was in the US sent an email to officemate informing that he will advise the Accounting Staff to advance officemate a certain amount from his bonus. He also mentioned in said email that the COO told him officemate didn’t show up for work.. according to him officemate said he didn't have enough money, COO said however he did show up for his paycheck and bought some smokes.

Without going into a long harangue, the snide remark by the COO to the CEO about the cigarette purchase should have remained private between those two. The fact both you and office mate are privy implies a bad work atmosphere where things which ought to be private are grist for the rumor and gossip mill - not generally a place where folks are happy working.

There are other items in this specific post copied above which are confusing:

1. If the guy takes leave without pay, where is he going to get money for mom's treatment? rob a bank?
2. Did office mate not showing up to work, only to retrieve a check, mean he was out at pawn shops selling possessions? at blood bank selling blood? looking for better paying job?

I've heard he was trying to borrow money from relatives and friends.

3. Is the COO the office mate's direct supervisor? If not, maybe he only knew part of the story - the part where the guy collects a check.

He was working with CEO and partly with COO on business systems and processes project. Since CEO was out of the country, officemate notified his (acting) supervisor that he will be taking emergency leave of absence.

4. Depending on the total size of the organization, it may be understandable there are no standing policies for dealing with an unpaid leave of absence. Small organizations typically operate ad hoc as situations arise.

5. Some responsibility for current situation rests with office mate who appears to have panicked in presenting his situation without making his needs and wants clear. Major responsibility falls on supervisors who seem to have displayed zero empathy for the plight of office mate, seeming to consider office mate "disposable."

The supervisor I was referring to is the COO.