Boss schedules an HR meeting with new hire at 3:30 on a Friday: 'Is this a sign I am getting fired?'

A 3:30 meeting with HR on a Friday is never a good sign.

We all go through things in life that are not workproof. You can't be the best sales representative at a cosmetics store if you're constantly crying off your mascara because you're still grieving the loss of a family member. Anyone who expects someone to be their best in a public-facing role very soon after a significant loss is fooling themselves. Heck, even people who work remotely and never have to speak to a soul will suffer in their work performance when they are going through something challenging in their lives. We've all been there, and it's essential to give people grace when life needs to take precedence over work for a moment.

You can't expect someone to be able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps when they are in desperate need of a life vest. If an employee is clearly struggling with something that is not work-related, to the point where their work is suffering, an open and honest conversation about the support they need can be most helpful. Even if your job can't be your therapist, it's comforting to know that your employer cares about your well-being.

The employee in this story has asked for, and allegedly received, workplace accommodations for his behavioral issues. Unfortunately, all signs point to him being fired for those behavioral issues, and there's little he can do about it. He's only been with the company for two weeks, and they're already scheduling Friday afternoon HR meetings with him.