A lesson in business
At the time my maternal grandmother passed away I was working a fairly junior and not especially well-paid job in the midlands. I shared a house, I went out once a week, I couldn't afford a car.

It wasn't a shock when she died but of course it was very sad and it was important to me to attend the funeral. Only problem was, it was to be in Lancashire. My options were to get a train or hire a car, either of which was going to cost around £100, money I really couldn't afford. It sucked; I didn't begrudge my gran the money but I was upset enough already and resented having to suffer additional hardship just because the train companies wanted their pound of flesh. I wearily started making mental notes, cancelling in my head social events and purchases I'd been planning for the month so I could reach next payday without breaking my overdraft.

The problem, I resolved, was that I was stuck in a shitty job that didn't pay enough. Other employees got paid more, I was sure of it, and many had company cars with the fuel all paid for. The fact that I lived walking distance from the office was irrelevant - they could whizz about to all the funerals they wanted for free and meanwhile I was stuck shelling out money I didn't have for journeys that were going to take all day, harrumph.

They probably won't even notice if I don't come in for the day, I grumbled to myself as I filled out the leave request form. I was underappreciated, underpaid and determined to get straight onto monster.com as soon as I handed the form in.

My boss was distracted when I went into her office.

"Sorry it's short notice," I said nervously. "But can I have Friday week off for my gran's funeral?"

"Of course," she said, turning to face me. "I'm sorry for your loss. There's no need for this," she said, handing back the form. "I won't take the day out of your allowance. Where is it, by the way?"

"Blackpool," I confessed.

"Take the pool car," she said.

And with four monosyllabic words, she bought an extra two years of loyalty from an employee who was planning to quit.

---

The funeral was lovely, by the way, and I felt extremely grown up arriving in a suit driving "my" company car. Which helped my ego a lot because the coffin was insanely heavy and I wobbled like a rheumatic OAP when we first lifted it!
( pineapplecharm D d M Y, H:i, Thu 11 Apr 2013, 15:17, 12 replies)

See now, that's a proper boss.
What good value she got for for her kindness!
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Thu 11 Apr 2013, 15:25, closed)

And a rogering, I'd wager.
Right, pineapplecharm?
( Fork Has lost his bash virginity!, Thu 11 Apr 2013, 15:27, closed)

She was comfortably twice my age
which wouldn't slow down many b3tans, I'll admit, but her husband was (a) MD of the company and (b) a Harley-riding hard man with a shaved head. Even if I'd had some kind of Oedipal impulse I'd have been too terrified to act on it!
( pineapplecharm D d M Y, H:i, Thu 11 Apr 2013, 15:40, closed)

So ...
Did you shag your boss?
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 11 Apr 2013, 15:39, closed)

I'm surprised she hasn't told you
given that she's your Mum.
( pineapplecharm D d M Y, H:i, Thu 11 Apr 2013, 15:41, closed)

So no then.

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 11 Apr 2013, 16:03, closed)

No she hasn't told you?

( pineapplecharm D d M Y, H:i, Thu 11 Apr 2013, 16:14, closed)

Nor you, by the sounds of it.

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 11 Apr 2013, 16:43, closed)

That's me told..

( pineapplecharm D d M Y, H:i, Thu 11 Apr 2013, 17:11, closed)

A click for you
and one for your boss.
(username failed moderation, Thu 11 Apr 2013, 16:03, closed)

HURRAH FOR A RARE DECENT BOSS!
*Clickies*
( stuj (^(^;;^)^) GO TEAM SPIDERS!(^(^;;^)^), Thu 11 Apr 2013, 16:08, closed)

This is quite lully really. That's a good boss right there.

*Clicks*
(anvil, Fri 12 Apr 2013, 1:06, closed)