Her Manager Thinks People On Disability Are Freeloaders — She’s Living Proof He’s Wrong
Shutterstock
If someone is injured and no longer able to work but they get disability checks, would you consider them a “freeloader”?
In this story, one person who is on disability got really upset when one of his former managers posted a meme that called out “freeloaders.” He was so upset about it that he decided to respond, calling out the manager and explaining the reality of the situation.
Keep reading for all the details.
Disappointed in one of my former favorite managers
One of my favorite managers from the Dairy Dessert Manufacturer posted a meme that read
“How bout no checks sent out. INSTEAD: No taxes taken out of our earnings the rest of year! Worker rewarded! Freeloader not!”
Mind you, he is now a corporate GM, and makes 6 figures a year.
He was absolutely on his servers’ side when I worked for him 7 years ago.
The former employee wrote a response.
I had to kindly retaliate because I’m permanently disabled, and it struck a raw nerve.
“You were one of the kindest, most understanding managers I ever had, so I want you to know I’m not “coming after you” for this post, and I’m not trying to be salty. I do understand the gist of it, I just don’t quite know how to react to it.
My heart goes out to the understaffed, overworked restaurant crews who have worked their butts off and put up with a lot of abusive BS from guests who don’t understand or care what the staff has been going through.
I’ve been on long-term disability paid by my employer for nearly 2 years while I’ve been in agonizing pain and trying not to become an opioid statistic. I don’t know how I would have been able to survive without my disability payments and the stimulus checks. I’ve had 2 major surgeries since 2020.
OP continued by sharing the reality.
I don’t consider myself a freeloader because my employer’s disability pays nearly 1/2 of what my income would be if I was fully able-bodied, and taxes are still taken out, which I’ll gladly pay.
Trust me, I’d rather be healthy, and back at work. Most of my money goes to medical bills.
I understand there are those who abuse the stimulus/unemployment/assistance system, but I would give anything to be able to get back to earning. I really miss working.
People say “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps!”
I say “I can barely put my socks on without back spasms let alone try to put on a pair of boots, and it sucks!”
Here’s how OP summed it up.
I’m not writing this to be a jerk, but I hope it puts a different perspective out there.
It makes me feel like crap to be seen as a freeloader in some people’s eyes when I’ve been trying so hard to get physically well enough to join the work force again. I do hope in some way that you understand.”
It breaks my heart that he writes broken bodies and broken spirits off as “freeloaders”. That is not the manager I adored years ago.
Never Miss a StorySign up to get our BEST stories of the week straight to your inbox.
I wonder how the manager reacted when he saw that response.
Let’s see how Reddit responded.
This person can relate.
Another person is on OP’s side.
This person calls out OP’s former manager.
Hopefully, the manager rethinks this position after reading what OP wrote. It’s easy to make assumptions when you don’t understand the reality. It’s also easy for those assumptions to be very wrong and even hurtful to the people who are living the reality.
Enjoyed this story?
Sign up to get our BEST stories of the week straight to your inbox.
