What a difference a job makes.

Today on the Sydney Morning Herald, I was shocked to see a nurse who had dedicated her life to helping the sick and needy was given a one line thank you letter and told not to turn up for work.

If that same woman had worked in Politics or as a federal politician in Canberra, her thank you would have been better than that one line thank you letter. 51 years of serving the people of Australia in the health service should be commended rather than given the thank you she received.

Unfortunately for Mary Morton it took her lawyer to get her the thank you that should have come at first rather than having to seek it out.

It’s a sad day when the women of our wonderful nation aren’t looked at as holding an important roll as this one. I wonder how the managers behind the sacking would feel if the same thing happened to them.

It’s ok for the Opposition health spokeswoman to condemn the disgraceful sacking and to condemn the government of the day. What happened to speaking with the NSW Health Service and the people behind the hiring and the firing rather than blaming the government? Surely in this day and age with the new IR laws in place, there should be a process where those who have spent many years of their life dedicated to helping others are given more than a thank you, you’re services are no longer required.

Perhaps the new IR laws should be looked into especially if someone like Mary Morton can be sacked so easily. I always thought that John Howard encouraged mature men and women to continue working. From this type of dismissal, I doubt that his idea of working till you can’t just isn’t going to happen. It’s cheaper to employ someone younger than it is to keep someone working till they are ready to retire.

It’s a shame that someone worth more than 50 years experience in health care was allowed to be sacked without warning but then this is happening a lot more frequently which is a shame.

The full story is found on the Sydney Morning Herald website.