How May I Help You - 8
“I need to add a child to my coverage," the voice said with a sense of urgency.
"Congratulations," Rita said. "We'll just need a copy of the birth certificate, and we can get that updated for you."
"So here's the thing," the voice said, pitched lower like he didn't want to be overheard, "I can get a copy of that, but the child is three months old. There was - well, suffice it to say the mother and I lost touch and I have only just become aware," the voice said. "But that's not the child's fault obviously."
"Of course not. I'm going to do a little more research on what information we might need from you. I will email you with that later today," Rita said.
"Okay thank you," the voice said..
Rita emailed Carla. These late baby adds were always the trickiest. If there was something like a paternity test, it made it easier. But in many cases folks had blocked each other's numbers and then by the time one or the other got around the technology there was already a baby. And the caller was right, it wasn't the baby's fault. But also, it wasn't the company's fault either. Or the fault of other employees who didn't bother to call because they read the rules and knew they had missed the deadline.
HR rules, especially benefits rules had to be consistent. But sometimes Rita felt like she was just making people sad.
Rita: Wants to add a three month old.
Eden: Sad face.
Ben: Maybe we should divvy these up. Like I will happily take all these secret babies if someone else will handle divorces and too many spouse problems.
Eden: Who would want divorces all the time though?
Ben: Well maybe marriages and divorces. I will think about this.
Ben: Rita you doing okay there?
Rita: Yeah, just sigh.
Eden: Yeah. We need something fun to look forward to. Who's watching good TV.
They managed to chat about fun things which made the work day seem a little less bleak.
Note: If you missed the prior installments, you can start at the beginning here.