After being diagnosed with double breast cancer, an employee receives a call in the hospital bed: her boss is terminating her employment.
In the summer of two years ago, 48-year-old employee Maria T. (name changed) from Ennstal was in the hospital bed. Agitated, nervously exhausted. She is afraid of dying. She just received her second diagnosis: double breast cancer! Concerns about the operations hang over her like a scalpel of Damocles.
The only real consolation: her husband is lovingly by her side. But the daughter (13), from whom she did not want to hide the truth, asks in tears: “Mom, are you going to die soon, just like grandma?” – Because Maria T.’s mother-in-law has died.’ leukemia (blood cancer) …
Call just before Christmas
A few months later, after chemotherapy and just before the medical procedure, her cell phone rings on the bedside table in her hospital room. Cancer patient Maria sees on the display: her boss is calling. She is happy. “Maybe he wants to send me Christmas greetings, after all, Christmas Eve is four days away.” After all, her employer made her a firm promise before her admission to the hospital: “Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you. You can then continue working with us again.”
But after a few nice greetings on the mobile phone, the company boss gets to the point: he really just wants to know how many vacation days his secretary has left. “Why do you want to know that? Will I be fired soon?” Maria T. asks worriedly. The boss turns around, somewhat embarrassed. Finally he says: “No, it’s just a matter of signing out. I can’t wait for you anymore.” So the termination – short and painful via mobile phone! The woman, who is already nervous, is blown away: she has just been de facto fired. So her employer’s big, powerful promise consisted of nothing but empty words.
Spiritual martyrdom
As a result, the 48-year-old is going through a mental ordeal until the surgery in the New Year. “I would have liked to stay with the company. I felt comfortable. But now I knew: if I survive the operations, there will be a new beginning!”, she says on the “Krone” phone, still emotionally hurt.
Maria T. is a fighter – she overcomes cancer. In 2023 she will work at a place in the Ennstal. She seems happy and thanks everyone who gave her the chance to start over. Irony of fate: Her former boss, who threw her out via mobile phone, now understands Maria’s fears at the time: he himself is seriously ill.
Cancellation tips from the Chamber of Commerce
“Instructions for terminating employees while they are in the hospital.” On its homepage, the Austrian Chamber of Commerce offers promising advice for business people on the best way to dismiss employees on sick leave – seemingly short and painless.
It states, among other things: “If the employee is bedridden due to illness and the receipt of the written notice of termination is therefore delayed, this may lead to a postponement of its effectiveness and we strongly recommend that it be sent by messenger.”
There is also a “valuable” tip from the Chamber of Commerce about our case mentioned above regarding Maria T.’s telephone cancellation: “Oral cancellation during illness is usually not an option – except by telephone. To guarantee your protection, an oral (telephone) termination must certainly be pronounced in the presence of a witness.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
