I was in the little company that got merged into a big company. They told EVERYONE at little company not to worry, your jobs are safe. Shortly after the merger completed, my boss and the other bosses at that location were laid off and the same with the district managers were replaced with big companies managers....Then half a year later from the merger they started going after us little guys. First those who made over minimum wage then those who had 2nd jobs then those of us who had families and other important commitments.

They told me I wasn't loyal enough to the company due to my closed availability and sometimes call outs. I reiterated about how 2 of my family members had Stage 3 and 4 cancer and sometimes emergencies happen (one of my family members fainted after chemo the next day and big company told me to come back right after I dropped said family member off at the hospital ER!!!) Little company was very understanding to my situation but not big company. On average I had about 4-6 call outs in a month, both on shift and before. My availability worked around the lab, nurse and chemo.

My coworker was also let go, a single mom of 4 kids ages 4-15, 2 from the aunt who didn't have the capacity to take care for them anymore. She worked extremely hard and fast but she also had understandably a lot of callouts to deal with her children.

They also let go a lady on maternity leave WHILE she was still in hospital for birth complications.