No-Wolf213's journey

I was recently fired from my job as a support staff member at a nonprofit organization where I had worked for nearly five years. The experience has been incredibly difficult for me, especially as I was going through a personal crisis. Last August, my mother passed away unexpectedly, and I suddenly became the guardian of my three younger siblings. I took bereavement leave and a short leave of absence to stabilize our situation, as my siblings were living in unsafe conditions. When I returned to work, I was still struggling but tried my best to push through. Things took a turn for the worse in late October when my sister was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. I was overwhelmed with grief and responsibility. I communicated with my supervisor and HR about my struggles and expressed interest in taking FMLA leave, but they encouraged me to prioritize my family and assured me that we could revisit my situation later. Despite my emotional turmoil, I continued to show up, support survivors, train new staff, and create resources. However, my attendance and emotional state began to suffer. By late February, I was put on an attendance improvement plan, which I understood but was hurt by. The criticisms of my character were particularly painful. I felt like I was being accused of not caring about my work or the people I supported. I requested meetings to resolve these issues, but my supervisor and the finance department were unresponsive. I felt like I was being gaslighted and treated unfairly, especially when I was told I had a bad reputation after almost five years of dedicated service. Eventually, I agreed to sign the attendance plan, especially since my sister was undergoing radiation treatment. It became clear to me that I was being pushed out. The day before I was fired, I learned that a coworker had been promoted to my position, which felt like a final blow. I was terminated the next day after being asked to work an extra shift, and I was treated with a lack of respect during the process. It’s been hard to process this experience, especially since I genuinely loved my job and the work I did. I never intended for my personal struggles to impact my work, but it felt like my crisis was met with judgment rather than support. I’m still trying to come to terms with everything and would love to hear from others who have gone through similar situations. How did you cope with being let go during such a difficult time?