Wanda Sykes' email made a grieving employee think she was being fired. Then she read it again
Dionn Katrina was grateful to Wanda Sykes for respecting her grief. She also praised the celebrity for holding on to grace
Having a boss who understands when you're going through something personal can make all the difference. Dionn Katrina (@dionnkatrina) was working on a comedy show produced by American comedian and actress Wanda Sykes in 2017. In the middle of production, Katrina's father passed away, and she had to leave the show to attend her dad's funeral. Two weeks later, Katrina was still at home when she received an email that made her return to work the next week. However, when she read the work email again, she noticed something and started bawling. Since being posted on June 7, 2026, the confession has received 9,400 likes, 234 comments, and 82 reshares.
'They're looking to replace you'
Katrina was away from work for two weeks after her father passed away. During this break, she received an email from work asking when she planned to come back because "they're looking to replace you." She informed them immediately that she would return the following week. During her flight, as she was organizing her work, she reread the email. It turned out she had misread it the first time. It actually said, "they aren't looking to replace you." She got super emotional and wrote, "I cried, and then cried more, because [I] wanted to call my now-dead dad."
A good 'balance'
On her first day back, she hugged Sykes and her producing partner, grateful that she still had a job. When she asked them about the email, they said, and Katrina reiterated, "I could've come back on the last day of production, and still had my job." She added that since it was a comedy show, it allowed her to laugh, even though she was still grieving her father. It was a good "balance," and she concluded by writing, "There are good people in this business, and Wanda is one of them for sure."
Good vs. bad bosses
Having a compassionate boss can make a huge difference during difficult times. Research has found that employees who receive meaningful support from their employer after a personal loss report higher levels of engagement, loyalty, and job satisfaction. According to Gallup, such workers are 69% less likely to seek opportunities elsewhere and 71% less likely to struggle with burnout. They are also three times more likely to feel connected to their work, while being five times more likely to trust leadership and champion their employer. In Katrina's case, not only was Sykes wonderful to work with, but she also understood when Katrina had to be away from work without pressuring her to come back.
The wonderful Wanda
Many people in the comments expressed their love and adoration for the American actress and comedian, and some even shared their experiences working with her. @betterwithsweaters commented, "When I was 22 and had just moved to New York, I got a job as a cocktail waitress at a music venue. My first night after training, Wanda was in my section with three friends. I was a mess, and she was so warm, kind, and patient. I have never forgotten that." @pauletteerato added, "I met her when she filmed something at the office I worked at. It was 2004-ish. She was incredibly down to earth, and we just sat on the floor in the hallway chatting while she waited for her scenes. I hope her pillow is always cool."
You can follow Dionn Katrina (@dionnkatrina) for more lifestyle content.
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