Co-worker gets fired-why do I feel bad?

[PirateKitty]

I've been with my company for 8 years. A co-worker of mine was let go today. This person had been obtaining and selling prescription drugs for some time now, and was caught the other day doing this "business" at work. I never particularly cared for this person, I don't engage in such acts, nor do I condone this behavior, so why do I feel soooooo bad for this person? I can't explain it...its not guilt...its not empathy...its just this strange feeling that I can't seem to shake. I just want to enjoy my weekend.

 

[hiwaygal]

I can understand this feeling...

A guy I know was the treasurer for a professional group I belong to. We found out earlier this year that he had embezzled pretty much all the money the group had. He admitted it, and has made restitution.

But, our profession is all about ethics. His employer found out and he was let go.

I felt bad for him too...sad for the choices he made and for what others (like his wife) were going to have to deal with because of his poor decision making.

 

[PirateKitty]

Its just awful. I mean, this person has a baby at home...and its so close to the holidays. But then again, I keep telling myself that they are adults. And they made this poor choice to live that kind of lifestyle. Maybe I'm just feeling sorry for them...

 

[JadenLayne]

I think you answered your own question in the post above. It's not so much her that you feel sorry for it's her family, the baby. Children sometimes have to suffer for their parent's mistakes and it's really sad.

 

[hiwaygal]

Its just awful. I mean, this person has a baby at home...and its so close to the holidays. But then again, I keep telling myself that they are adults. And they made this poor choice to live that kind of lifestyle. Maybe I'm just feeling sorry for them...

That's probably it...and just the feeling that this might have come out of the blue for this person, and now they have to find a way to make ends meet.

I hope you feel better soon!

 

[PirateKitty]

Thanks so much fellow DIS'ers. I need to cheer up...

 

[sweetspicy]

I think I know the feeling too. A few years ago at another job, I worked with a lady who was stealing and even got found out by one of her friends. I know the lady who was stealing deserved to get fired, but I kind of felt bad that she had to go home and tell her husband why she didn't have a job anymore...and her husband was a cop.

 

[Missy1961]

I think your feelings mean that you have a big heart. You feel for the innocent ones in this situation, and there is nothing wrong in that.