When I first came to the USA I obviously did not have an EAD (employment authorization document) which would make it legal for me to work. I started to work at this place as a non-paid intern. 6 months later I got my EAD and I found out that the owner literally logged my hours without my knowledge and paid me a bonus for the last 6 months. He was an Egyptian immigrant and he said he knew how difficult it was. I owe a lot to that guy.

I worked security a while back for a private mom and pop type company. The boss, D, was a God amongst men. First off he had a glorious ass. Second was he was just exceptionally down to earth and kind. During my interview I had just come off a night shift and accidentally swore. I immediately realized and apologized. He just said “Oh I don’t fuckin care” with a smirk. I worked for him for a while before getting posted to a mall. He would pick me up occasionally or drop me off if he knew the busses were bad. Not because my being late would mess the schedule. Just because he could and wanted to.

With all the trauma I was still processing and with severe ADHD, my brain ran wild and imagined way too much. This is really bad when your job is just to stand at an entrance all day. After a couple of days where I just started crying randomly, I went to the security office of the mall that we were contracted to and said I had to dip. Boss called me on the way home asking why and if I was okay. I explained. He said to take as much time off as I needed, zero questions asked.

After a week he called me back asking if I was okay to come back. I said I wanted to take another week. He said sure. He paid me a minimum amount of hours I didn’t ask for in that week and when I brought it up he said that he didn’t know what I was talking about and then said the word wink. After that second week he called back and I was not okay. I was rapidly falling apart. I said I appreciated the opportunity he gave me but I’d have to quit so I didn’t waste his time and I’d bring the uniform in in a couple days. He said he didn’t allow me to quit and hung up. Couple days later I got papers in the mail saying I had been laid off instead so I was able to collect EI benefits and get extra med and health coverage.

Nicest boss I’ve ever had and I don’t know if anyone could come close.

I put my degree on hold because I just couldn’t summon the motivation at the time to finish. 2 subjects shy of graduating.

FF 8 years later and my then current boss asks about it, I said I’d never finished it because reasons. He offers to help pay for any subjects I need to take to complete. It turns out if I’d left it on hold for any longer I would have forfeited the whole thing.

He not only paid the money for me to finish those last two subjects; once I graduated he bumped my pay substantially because now he had a university-educated staff member on the books.

I was sad because my friend was dying in the hospital. My manager noticed my demeanour and asked what’s wrong. She asked me if I needed to be there, but I said there’s nothing to be done.

Later that day I got a phone call from another friend saying it was the end. I put on my jacket and went to my manager’s office. I didn’t want to, but I started crying. She hugged me, got her jacket, and drove me to the hospital herself. (I didn’t have a car then, I’d planned to take the bus.)

My friend died, and that was the saddest time ever in my life. But I’ll always remember and appreciate the kindness my manager showed me.

I worked at a gas station for a while, at the time I was deeply depressed and suicidal. My boss had to deal with me vanishing from being hospitalized over a suicide attempt and he didn’t fire me, or reprimand me, he got me a get well soon card, and told me to let him know when I was up to come back.

I eventually left and ended up on disability, but even when I quit he was understanding, wished me the best, and told me if I was ever looking for work again to apply there.

Good fucking guy, really did his best to make our lives easier, and make sure we were doing ok.