October 20, 2025 at 3:46 am

Shift Worker’s Grandmother Was Having Serious Health Problems, So Her Boss Let Her Miss Her Shift Twice To Be With Her

by Ashley Ashbee

Woman waiting outside hospital room, looking at a doctor or nurse

Pexels/Reddit

Losing a family member who has known you your whole life is often very hard.

What can make it either even better or even worse is how others deal with your needs in those moments.

See why this worker is still very touched.

Today my boss turned into the most amazing hero.

My grandmother has been hospitalized for several months and on my days off I’ve visited as often as possible to spend some last few precious days with her.

Wednesday evening evening my mother called to tell me that she had start to get worse and that I should probably try to come as soon as possible.

The situation could have become even more stressful, but it didn’t.

We decided that I would come over Friday before work.

Thursday morning at 5 am my mother called once again – grandmas breathing was now irregular and nobody knew how much time was left.

I spent the next few hours walking aimlessly until I could call my boss and say that I would not be coming into work (I was opening that day).

I said just wanted her okay before I left. She just told me to go and not to worry about work.

I promised to be back by Saturday morning (missing my Thursday and Friday shifts).

It’s Friday night now and I have realized that I can not leave, I have to be here with my mother and my uncle.

Her boss’s response was incredible.

So I texted my boss, telling here that I would be absent tomorrow and possibly even longer. It’s the middle of the night and I am the person who covers for whoever is missing, there’s no one who can cover for me but I can not leave.

A few minutes ago I got a text back, saying that of course I should stay and take my farewells and care for her for as long as I felt the need to.

She said she understands why I can not leave and that she sends her thoughts and sympathy to me and my family.

She has given me a priceless gift that I will be able to carry with me for the rest of my life and I am eternally grateful for it.

Here is what people are saying.

Same! I like that this rhymes.

Screenshot 2025 09 28 at 10.41.27 PM Shift Workers Grandmother Was Having Serious Health Problems, So Her Boss Let Her Miss Her Shift Twice To Be With Her

That’s so awful. I hope she quit.

Screenshot 2025 09 28 at 10.42.33 PM Shift Workers Grandmother Was Having Serious Health Problems, So Her Boss Let Her Miss Her Shift Twice To Be With Her

Definitely! Good clients are like this, too!

Screenshot 2025 09 28 at 10.43.20 PM Shift Workers Grandmother Was Having Serious Health Problems, So Her Boss Let Her Miss Her Shift Twice To Be With Her

What a heartwarming story.

If you liked that post, check out this post about a woman who tracked down a contractor who tried to vanish without a trace.

Ashley Ashbee | Contributing Writer, Workplace & Culture

Ashley Ashbee is a contributing writer for TwistedSifter specializing in workplace dynamics, employee advocacy, and professional culture. Drawing on her real-world experience as a software consultant, she brings a unique, insider perspective to navigating office conflicts, toxic management, and trending professional dilemmas.

Holding a degree in Professional Writing from York University, Ashley combines her formal editorial training with her corporate background to deliver highly engaging, empathetic narratives. She excels at breaking down complex workplace dramas and translating them into stories that truly empower and validate modern workers.

Based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Ashley balances her time between the tech and publishing worlds with her love for the outdoors. When she isn’t consulting or writing, she can usually be found exploring local walking trails or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn and Twitter/X.