Employee Donates To Lymphoma Research In Honor Of A Beloved Manager Using The Work Email Of The Boss Who Made His Final Months Miserable

Not sure if this counts as petty, but the story of Jacob and Dale is one that deserves to be told. It all started when Jacob, a beloved manager, was put under the thumb of Dale, a new boss whose reputation was already tarnished before he even walked through the doors. Jacob was the kind of manager who guided and supported his team, making it clear that their hard work was the backbone of the corporation. He was genuine, approachable, and had the kind of leadership style that made people want to work harder for him.

Fast forward to a couple of years into Jacob’s tenure, and corporate decided to hire Dale, a man whose unlikable demeanor preceded him. Right from the start, Dale began to make Jacob’s life a living hell. He started dishing out write-ups for the most trivial reasons: a shade of paint that didn’t quite match up or not staying late for a last-minute request. It was as if Dale was on a mission to undermine Jacob, and it was exhausting to watch. Jacob, who was only a few years away from retirement, began talking about working at McDonald’s just to escape the toxic environment Dale created. The employees rallied behind Jacob, but corporate and HR sided with Dale, dismissing Jacob’s complaints as mere fabrications.

As tensions rose, the company found itself in a slew of new troubles. Jacob’s health began to deteriorate, which was noticed by a new and equally clueless hire named Kathy. Kathy, who landed her position due to her proximity to Dale rather than any real qualifications or experience, reported to Dale that she was “concerned for Jacob’s health” after witnessing him nod off during a meeting. This concern led to Dale putting Jacob on temporary leave, and to make matters worse, he replaced him with an inexperienced 18-year-old kid.

This new arrangement left the department in chaos, and Jacob’s team had to grapple with the fact that someone who had been there for them was now sidelined. Rumors circulated that this was part of Dale’s plan to get rid of Jacob altogether. And just when everyone thought things couldn’t get worse, they did. Jacob received a diagnosis that turned the entire department upside down: he had secondary lymphoma, which had spread to his brain. Only days after learning of his diagnosis, the news broke that Jacob had passed away. It sent shockwaves through the workplace.

As the team mourned, one employee, who had always admired Jacob, couldn’t help but feel a wave of anger rise within him. Instead of wallowing in sadness, he decided to channel that anger into something he believed would give a little satisfaction. Without a second thought, he went to St. Jude’s cancer research website and decided to make a monthly donation to lymphoma research in Jacob’s name. But here’s where it got interesting—he used Dale’s work email and address for the donation. When signing up, he chose the option to honor Jacob.

As a result of this little act of rebellion, Dale received an email thanking him for his generous contribution to lymphoma research in Jacob’s name. The thought of a man who had made Jacob’s last months so difficult receiving such a message was satisfying. Even if Dale canceled the subscription to those emails, the employee knew that Dale would initially receive not only the email but also potential mail about the donation moving forward. It was a small, but deliciously petty act that brought a flicker of joy amidst the grief.

Years have passed since that moment, but the employee still holds on to a token to remember Jacob—a small, pinned Asian blue bee with a message embossed on the paper: “bee thoughtful.” This serves as a reminder to always consider the weight of others’ struggles and the impact of one’s actions.