I had a client express concern to me about one of their employees that have been out for a week now. The client is concerned on a multitude of levels.
Unfortunately this is a larger company working on a razor thin budget. One employee being out for an unplanned absence can cause an undue burden on the workflow. But this can be worked around, as it has been when an employee leaves.
The employee has been with the company for over eight years and has been an active part of the business. The suspicion is that this is very serious illness, which is where the concern comes in. Not only at the employee level, but the human empathy level as well. There are relatively small children in the equation.
To date no plans had been put in place for this type of contingency. There is always the threat of an employee moving on, within any business and every position.
So the client treads softly, bringing the employee dinner that evening. Wondering how this is all going to play out for all involved.