Employee laid off after saving her boss’ life
February 3, 2009 by Fred HosierPosted in: Dubious decisions, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, That's how they do it in ______
It’s tough for anyone in HR to participate in the process of deciding who stays and who goes when layoffs are necessary. See what you think about this case.
Sharon and David Hegyi, wife and husband, were laid off after working seven years at Tipperary Station in Australia’s Northern Territory.
Of course, layoffs are devastating, especially when both working parents in a family with children are let go at the same time.
But Sharon is really shocked at the company’s decision because just months earlier she played a key part in saving the life of her boss.
Sharon was an office worker at the Station, but she’s also a registered nurse.
Station finance manager David Breed had a severe heart attack at work last September.
Sharon gave him medication, hooked him up to oxygen and called an ambulance.
When Breed deteriorated rapidly, Sharon and David put him in a car and drove toward the nearest town. The ambulance met them half way there.
Breed recovered.
Fast forward a few months: The Hegyis returned home from a Christmas vacation to find they were being laid off.
They were given a separation package and told to leave their company house with their five children in two weeks.
The Station’s general manager confirmed to the Northern Territory News that Sharon had saved the life of one of his managers. However, he said the couple had been laid off for economic reasons.
The Hegyis are confident they’ll find new jobs soon.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:36 am
That is absolutely horrible. And to give someone two weeks to get out. That was a complete slap in their face. I think if the company had to let them go, they could have done it way better. What a shame. It sickens me that this country does not take care of their own and is always worried about other countries. I know if it would have been me, I could never get out in two weeks. Shame on them!! Maybe this guys heart died when he had his heart attack because he sure didnt show it when he handed them the laid off new…HORRIBLE…
February 6th, 2009 at 10:41 am
What do I think? I am thinking that if I lived in Australia and had occasion to do business with this firm I’d avoid it at all costs, even if that meant spending far more on comparable services with a competitor.
When companies talk about lack of employee loyalty (and they do all day long), they should take a good hard look in the mirror at their own practices.
Disgusting.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:37 am
I agree with both Kristina and James’ comments. SHAME ON THEM. To lay both husband and wife off, then put their family out of the company house (at Christmas time) with just a two weeks notice. SHAME ON THEM.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Just proves that no good deed goes unpunished. To lose their jobs was bad enough, but to have to vacate as well…despicable!
February 6th, 2009 at 11:48 am
They should re-think their procedures and policies. They may need these people back as the global economy improves. I would not return to a company that treats people this way. This is almost as cold-hearted as it can get given the impact on the lives of seven people. Makes you wonder what this Company’s Values are.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Wow talk about heartless. It’s hard to believe they couldn’t keep at least one of them to allow them to stay in the house. Cut their hours or something but letting them go seems like overkill. Nice to see the couple is confident in their own abilities to find new jobs. No good deed goes unpunished.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Do the people making these decisions ever try to imagine what it would be like to be in the employee’s shoes? Could THEY find a new home and move an entire family of 7 in 2 weeks with no income??? It’s shameful! Thanks for saving my life, and Merry Christmas… now get out!
February 6th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
So the next time that guy needs his life saved what will the employees be thinking?
February 6th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
I seriously think it is a requirement of higher management to be cold, cruel and to have no compassion or ability to put themselves in the shoes of the little guy. To them, everyone is dispensable all the hard work and dedication is ignored but any tiny problem is magnified to death. The people who work for them are not permitted to be human and to have faults. “Personal life” is not in their dictionary. It truly is sad. People with compassion for their fellow man and the ability to see the other person’s point of view are always the ones hiding in the corner either killing themselves trying to do everything or being given mindless busywork, either way, they are working really hard and getting paid one shiny penny a month. Yeah, I am talking from experience, I have yet to find a upper management person who has a heart. They just simply don’t exist. It’s sad, isn’t it?
February 8th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
They should have recieved a personal bonus check and several copies of letters of recommendation. Actually, I think the couple should bill him for their services – the gas, the labor, the education, etc… and take it up with a lawyer.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
I do not know the facts of this story beyond what appears in this article. But I’d like to point out that the article does not indicate that the manager who had the heart attack was the direct supervisor who made the layoff decisions. He was a finance manager, and the spokesperson quoted was a general manager.
Remove the life-saving scenario and it is still a pathetic story of knowingly thrusting a family into crisis.
February 9th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I agree with Persephone completely, (Jim I understand what your stating too) I do have a Manager who does have a heart and is always looking out for the “little ” people and that includes the lower paid salary workers. But he is ALWAYS fighting the Upper Management who are over him to try and help us out. During this time of crisis you would think that an Upper Management person who makes WELL over $100, 000.00 a year would cut his own wages during this time so that other people could continue to have a job to come to everyday, well that is not the case here! Also give up those company cars (and free gas). How selfess can people be! These lower paying people have families and bills too, why don’t you give up your little costly needs for a while to help out the little people for a change. If they were truely worried about us they would look at other ways to help instead of laying us off and telling us that they will not fight our unemployment…how kind of you!