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Kathleen Kelly is the mother of three. A little more than a decade ago her marriage ended and Kathleen found herself with sole custody of her children aged 5, 8, and 10 years. Since her ex- spouse was not involved and in fact non- supportive, Kathleen’s labor provided their sole means of support.
Working in retail she never got enough hours to qualify for any benefits. It seems that her employer never considered working her enough to qualify or perhaps it was by design….she never knew. Even though she remained not quite full time she was able to provide the basics for her family.
With the older children in school and just enough to hire daycare for the youngest of her children their existence was practically “hand to mouth”.
Then one day the inevitable happened. In the wee hours her eight year old woke with an upset stomach and fever. Like all parents, Kathleen sat up in the night trying to comfort her child, while waiting for the hour at which she could call the physician’s office to arrange an appointment.
The other, more agonizing reality, was that she would have to call her employer. She knew that she would, at the very least, be forfeiting her wages to take care of her child. There was no question what her decision would be. What she didn’t know was the extent to which she would be threatened.
Once on the phone, with the her manager at the high-end women’s apparel shop where she worked, Kathleen was exhorted by the manager to make other arrangements for the care of her child. The manager even suggested the older sibling might stay home with the younger child.
With no support system of extended family and the impossible suggestion of leaving her ill child with a sibling, it became apparent that there was no compassion for her situation from her superior. At some point in the conversation it was even suggested the employer would have to find someone more reliable.
By this time openly sobbing Kathleen pleaded with her manager exclaiming “Please, just don’t fire me!”
The manager eventually relented and Kathleen was able to care for her child and keep her job. With a days wages gone however, that month was a little tighter financially at the Kelly household. After that experience Kathleen never viewed her workplace the same again. In short order she found a better situation with another employer and left the retail job.
Though many years have past, Kathleen vividly remembers her feelings that day and knows that it is wrong to treat people in that way. She solidly supports the Ohio Healthy Families Act and the dignity it recognizes in every person.
Please Sign a Message Of Support For The Ohio Healthy Families Act Here
