12 Moments Where Compassion at Work Turned Strangers Into Family

Work is supposed to be professional, not personal. But sometimes, a small act of compassion changes everything. These moments show how kindness at work turned strangers into family.

• Had a boss who was genuinely really good at getting people involved and socializing, even us quiet people. He would come and say hello and shake my hand every morning even though he had like 200 people reporting to him. He remembered to invite everyone to outings and events. Not all at the same time, he’d get like 10 together at a time but everyone got their time.
  He’s a good dude. An extrovert who appreciates and understands his introverts. Gave us our space when we needed it too. © goldbricker83 / Reddit

• I was the only one without family nearby. When I ended up in the hospital after an accident, I assumed I’d recover alone. Instead, my coworkers took turns visiting me after work.
  One brought food. Another handled my insurance calls. On the day I was discharged, my manager was waiting outside with a ride home. I didn’t feel alone anymore.

• I had a miscarriage and called my coworker to let her know I couldn’t make it in that night for our shift together. She talked to our boss for me, and she stopped what she was doing (packing and planning for an international move) to bring me a package of self-care items. Then she just held me while I cried. © friendlyGrub / Reddit

• I live in the Midwest and the snowstorm last winter was terrible. So my car battery completely went out. I was taking an Uber to and from work for a couple of days.
  When my coworker found out, she offered to take me home so I wouldn’t have to take an Uber. Then she told her husband about my car situation and he came to my house to replace my car battery in the cold. He didn’t let me pay him but I did pay him for the new battery. This was my first time meeting him!
  They are such a lovely couple. © firecracker_ma / Reddit

• I worked double shifts for years and never complained. When my husband was diagnosed with cancer, I tried to keep going like nothing had changed.
  One morning, I broke down in the supply room. A coworker found me and quietly told the rest of the team. By the end of the day, my schedule had been rewritten without my input.
  Someone covered my weekends. Someone else took my nights. A manager told me, “Your job will be here. Go be with him.”
  For months, I sat in chemo chairs instead of meetings. When I finally returned, my desk was exactly how I left it, like they’d been saving my place.

• I was a brand new teacher at a brand new school having a really rough day. I went to the bathroom to cry. One of coworkers, who I really didn’t know at all, saw me and waited outside the bathroom until I came out and gave me a hug and asked if I was ok. © Unknown Author / Reddit

• I never took a day off at work in 4 years. When my mom had a stroke, I begged for time off. My boss said, “Find someone to cover for you or don’t bother coming back.” I stayed up all night panicking.
  The next morning, I opened my phone. I stopped breathing when I read “We’ve got you. Every shift covered for the next 2 weeks.”
  My coworkers had divided my schedule among themselves without being asked. I flew home that day. I held my mom’s hand while she recovered.
  When I came back, my boss said nothing. But my coworkers hugged me one by one. I realized that day, my real family was at work.

• My appendix almost burst one day at the office. My cube partner got a card and went around and had everyone sign it, about a hundred employees. Felt really nice. © JoshuaScot / Reddit

• My coworker pulled me aside a few weeks ago to ask if I was doing okay. I was not. I had sounded the alarm a few times already but the company did not seem to care much. She gave me a peptalk about my strengths and qualities and told me that if they aren’t appreciated here, I could easily find another job where they are.
  I don’t work directly with this coworker so it would have been easy for her to ignore me. She did it out of sheer kindness. I appreciate it deeply. © ImaBananaPie_ / Reddit

• I was the lowest-paid person on the team, and I never complained about it. When my landlord raised the rent without warning, I cut every corner I could. I stopped buying lunch, picked up extra shifts, and told everyone I was just trying to save money. I didn’t tell them I was scared.
  On the day rent was due, I checked my bank balance in the office bathroom and felt my stomach drop. I was still short. I sat there longer than I meant to, trying to figure out which bill I could delay.
  When I got back to my desk, my phone buzzed with a deposit notification. The description just said, “Team lunch fund.” I stared at it, confused, until a coworker walked by and said, “We figured you could use it more than takeout this month.”
  They’d quietly stopped ordering lunch and split the money between themselves so I wouldn’t have to choose between rent and food.

• When my teenage daughter unexpectedly passed away (3 years ago), a young coworker started a Gofundme to pay for expenses and for me to be able to take time off. All my coworkers who contributed in any shape or form just warmed my heart during the worst moment of my life.
  My coworker who started it went to another company but I think of her often. I hope karma repays her with a good life! © TheRealTexasDutchie / Reddit

• I was the first in my family to get a corporate job, and I was terrified of messing up. When my father passed away suddenly, I didn’t know how to ask for time off, so I didn’t. I just kept working, numb.
  My manager noticed and called me into her office. She’d already arranged bereavement leave, travel help, and coverage. “You don’t have to earn compassion,” she said.
  After the funeral, my phone buzzed with messages from coworkers checking on me. I stopped feeling like an outsider after that.

These workplace stories can make you almost miss the office, but it’s not always that easy at work! Here’s a story from one of our readers who refused to work Saturdays and how their company made them pay for it.