For six years, I took pride in being a fair manager, always upholding company rules. So when Celia was late for the third time that month, I had no choice but to let her go. She left quietly without protest.
Later, I overheard coworkers talking about Celia’s personal struggles. She had been going through a tough time, balancing the care of her young son while trying to access resources across town. Realizing I had made a mistake, I tracked her down in a parking lot, apologized, and offered her the job back, along with support through local programs.
Over time, things started to improve for Celia—she found a new apartment, received a small pay raise, and got access to community help. A few weeks later, Celia thanked me, not just for the job, but for seeing her as a person, not just an employee.
This experience reminded me that while rules are important, kindness and compassion often make the bigger difference.
