Psychology Today | 27.01.2026 21:17
In a company I’m familiar with, Betty, a well-regarded veteran employee, didn’t come into work one day and didn’t notify her manager regarding her absence. At the time, Betty’s team was experiencing a seasonal high workload and her absence was felt by all. When her manager called to find out if anything was wrong, Betty answered, sounding very upset. While quietly sobbing, she explained to her manager in a broken voice that her beloved cat had died over the weekend and that she was currently emotionally incapable of returning to work. When Betty did return, a full week later, she was obviously still in much emotional pain, and her performance and productivity were far from their normal high levels.
