Undercover Boss learns her hardworking employee’s mom is on her deathbed — gifts her a core memory she’ll never forget
The employee had been working for 12 years while supporting her family back home in Ethiopia.
In one of the most emotional moments from Undercover Boss covered on Dabl, a woman named Almaz shared a story that few of her coworkers had ever heard. She had worked as a server for more than a decade, training new staff, keeping the dining room running smoothly, and keeping every table perfectly set. Her attention to detail earned her respect, but what her boss discovered next showed just how much she’d been carrying on her own.
As the two worked side by side, Almaz shared that she was originally from Ethiopia and had been supporting her family back home since moving to the U.S. "I came straight here. My mom’s sister has cancer. My dad passed away," she said softly. "They’re all still back home." Even while working long hours, Almaz never complained. "I’m happy," she said when asked how she managed it all. "I’m not complaining."
Later that day, over dinner, her boss gently asked more about her mother. Almaz hesitated, then admitted that her mom was still alive but very sick. "She said goodbye to me," she said quietly. "She invited me to come. She kissed me goodbye." When asked what she wished for, her answer was immediate: "I wish I could go back to see her. I don’t know what God makes happen in America. You never know. That’s what I’m wishing."
Her boss listened, visibly moved, and after hearing how much Almaz had given of herself for twelve years, she decided to do something few employees ever expect. "As you’ve been with us for twelve years, I want to make sure you stay with our company because you are exceptional," she said. "I want to give you recognition for the outstanding work that you do, and I’m promoting you to supervisor," but that wasn’t all. Fighting back emotion, she added, "I know your mom is not well, and I know how difficult it is to be so far away with her not well. So what I want to do for you is send you to Ethiopia to visit your mom. I’ll take care of your wages for a full month while you’re away." Almaz broke down in tears, overcome by what she’d just heard.
This kind of support is what employees constantly look for in their workplaces. In one study published in Sustainability by MDPI, researchers examined how accessible family-friendly policies affect workers’ health and commitment. The study analyzed service-sector employees in Spain and found that simply having work-family policies wasn’t enough to make a difference. What mattered most was accessibility, whether employees felt safe and supported enough to use them. Those who could actually access family leave or flexibility reported better emotional and physical well-being and missed fewer workdays as a result.
Viewers were equally moved by the boss's gesture and admired her generosity. @barbaraburns4804 wrote, "This boss has given this worker her miracle to be with her mom before she passed. What a blessing that was. There are still good people in this world who care for others. I'm really touched by such benevolence." "And a girl at my work got written up for leaving early because her dog got out and was killed by a car. She quit, and I'm looking for another job. This woman has a huge heart," said @petek3090. @alejandroperalta6953 chimed in, "That is a woman who’s never been handed anything! She has worked so hard for everything she has, and is very proud. God bless them both."
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