1) There’s something to be said for people who hate funerals, even (read: especially) when it’s for someone they care about. Some people can’t stand the idea of looking at a dead body in a casket or watching them be lowered into the ground and would rather keep a memory where that person was alive as the last one they have of them. Other people hate wallowing, haven’t had it hit them yet and don’t want it too, etc. And keeping busy is one of the most common coping mechanisms there is when it comes to grief. Especially if you’re still in the denial phase. There’s a solid chance the guy cried harder when he was laid off because that job was the only thing keeping him from thinking about the fact that his dad was gone and without said job both losses hit him at once and he couldn’t run away from it anymore.
2) A lot of jobs in America genuinely don’t offer paid time off to grieve. Some bosses are shitty and will refuse outright, especially in workplaces that already use skeleton staffs. Even if you have someone who’s understanding enough to offer leave, if it’s unpaid that may not be an option anyway. Life keeps going for everyone else, and people still have bills to pay. Depending on where you are (like US, since it’s being used as an example for a reason) there is a cultural push toward work being something that should consume your life— vacations, leave, sick days, etc. are all things that can get you branded as “not trying hard enough” in the wrong work environment. So even when something is available on paper both workplace and regional cultural will make some people feel like it’s still not an option
If he kept working for the latter reason and they still laid him off, then those tears were over the realization that he gave up saying goodbye to his father for an employer who threw him out like last week’s trash in the same quarter.
I’m honestly jealous of anyone who’s privileged enough to consider either of these things fairy tale material.
I mean with how staffing is now at most places, I wouldn't even consider it privilege. I knew a guy who was making 6 figures and was higher up, and the company he worked for would still treat him like ass. I was also demoted at my last job because I was sick and had a doctor's note.
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u/DrainianDream 8d ago
1) There’s something to be said for people who hate funerals, even (read: especially) when it’s for someone they care about. Some people can’t stand the idea of looking at a dead body in a casket or watching them be lowered into the ground and would rather keep a memory where that person was alive as the last one they have of them. Other people hate wallowing, haven’t had it hit them yet and don’t want it too, etc. And keeping busy is one of the most common coping mechanisms there is when it comes to grief. Especially if you’re still in the denial phase. There’s a solid chance the guy cried harder when he was laid off because that job was the only thing keeping him from thinking about the fact that his dad was gone and without said job both losses hit him at once and he couldn’t run away from it anymore.
2) A lot of jobs in America genuinely don’t offer paid time off to grieve. Some bosses are shitty and will refuse outright, especially in workplaces that already use skeleton staffs. Even if you have someone who’s understanding enough to offer leave, if it’s unpaid that may not be an option anyway. Life keeps going for everyone else, and people still have bills to pay. Depending on where you are (like US, since it’s being used as an example for a reason) there is a cultural push toward work being something that should consume your life— vacations, leave, sick days, etc. are all things that can get you branded as “not trying hard enough” in the wrong work environment. So even when something is available on paper both workplace and regional cultural will make some people feel like it’s still not an option
If he kept working for the latter reason and they still laid him off, then those tears were over the realization that he gave up saying goodbye to his father for an employer who threw him out like last week’s trash in the same quarter.
I’m honestly jealous of anyone who’s privileged enough to consider either of these things fairy tale material.