Dear Family and Friends,
Thank you for your ongoing prayers for Sophie and our family. Your emotional and financial support has meant the world to us, and continues to help us raise awareness and funding for pediatric cancer.
I would now like to ask for your help again, in raising awareness for a different issue close to my heart. As some of you may know, about two years ago I was asked to resign my job at Unilever due to Sophie’s cancer diagnosis. I was hurt by this decision, but most of all angry that such a reputable company could make such a harsh and apathetic decision when I needed them the most.
In response to these events, I’ve written an article that I feel fortunate to say was published today on NBC News Digital. My hope is that the article can shed light on an alarming and unfortunately pervasive trend in corporate America today, in the hopes of enacting change for the future.
Please access the article through the link below, and help me spread this important message by sharing on your individual social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.).
Best wishes to everyone for a happy (and most importantly!) healthy new year.
Jenny Spangenthal
hi jenny,
as always, thank you for keeping us informed about princess sophie.
i have not read the article yet but i am furious at the harsh decision the company made.
i wish i were a labor attorney who could sue them for discrimation. i have heard of companies that allow their employees to give their vacation days to other employees who are in need of some time whether they are ill or a family member is.
every day i am learning more and more about what it means to be kind — to bring spiritual goodness into the physical world. you always inspire me to do more.
my prayers and blessings to you, david and the entire spangenthal family for revealed good and the speedy arrival of Moshiach.
Hi Jennifer,
I read the article but had no idea you left Unilever. Terrible decision and loss on their part. Always thinking of you, your family and especially Sophie. Hope she’s doing well.
Very well written article. Thank you for sharing this!
KUDOS to You-Jenny!
Sophie,David & Yourself should only continue to get Chizuk from God and family & friends
Very poignant and well-written article-
My weekly Divrei Torah at the Yudin Home continue every Shabbos with a Bracha for Refuah for Chava Shalva Gavriella-precious Sophie
Before there was an FMLA law to protect me, I lost a job while on maternity leave. I was enraged and demoralized. I feel for you. It’s an unfair outcome. Sending you, David, and the kids all our love.
A very well written / important article my friend. I am so sorry they treated you with such a horrible lack of compassion/ empathy as it was truly a disgrace/ so so Tremendously Shameful . You/ your beautiful family/ Sophie are always in my prayers for G-d’s comfort healing / only goodness . May the secular New Year Americai bring you / your beautiful family/ Sophie only Good Health Success / and much much joy/ happiness.
Shalom/ Peace / A very happy / most of all healthy Secular Amercai Shana Tovah/ New Year my friend.
Dear Jennifer: I read your article a few minutes ago not expecting to get a true perspective on how major corporations treat their employees. I was looking for a targeted marking group in regard to promoting a get away cancer rejuvenating retreats for cancer survives and their family for major 500 companies employees whose lives have been touched by cancer.
I can’t imagine what CEO wouldn’t want to keep a skilled and talented employee on staff and work out a temporary work schedule that would allow the employee to work from home. We have learned from the COVID-19 that most companies and government offices have been forced to close, there’s no other choice but to allow employees to work virtually from home. It seems to be working for the most part for major corporations and government employees as well even in the private sector.
This is a new day and a new age. We have learned from watching the Presidential debates that we can’t rely on a Presidential Candidate to change the course of AMERICA. We have to be the change agents. We have witnessed some unbelievable inhuman events on TV daily and have found it hard to believe that America is being torn apart. I believe that when they’re great obstacles they’re only golden opportunities to make a change that will whole heartedly embrace and create value for all humanity. I would say that we need humanitarian global agenda in the work place especially for employees whose lives are impacted by cancer.
Starting with Fortune 500 companies , their profit margins are enormous and certainly the health and well being of their employees should be their highest priority, Your experience was spoken with “TRUTH” and it reveals that we should come together with a “National Agenda to make change in the way we work in America and they way in which the employers and employees have a shared sense of responsibility for their health. We need to come to the drawing board and plan a better workforce when cancer takes a seat in the board room at the head of the table there’s got to be a better plan from a humanistic and common sense approach that includes the whole family. When companies invest in their employees health and well being they too will profit more in ways that are unimaginable.
There is no cure for cancer and yet major 500 corporations are benefiting financially from the labor of their talented workforce. Work stress from 9 -5 in my opinion is absolutely insane and unhealthy especially if you have to commute to and from your job daily rather your on a bus, subway or car. The commuting time is so exhausting especially if you have to manage a family. I’ve watched mothers and fathers juggle their work schedules just to get their children to and from the day care center or dropped off at school all of it is extremely stressful and time consuming. The juggling with the car seat and keeping the child calm and patient is another marker for stress. If you’re fortunate enough to buy a car with an entertainment center for your children may help but takes away the time to really have engaging human conversations or just singing time.
American families lives are impacted every day with time management rather its for their job or family home management with daily chores food preparation for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Billions of dollars are spent on cancer reseach and we still don’t have a cure. America really goes way out with the PINK promotional fund raising events during “National Cancer Awareness Month” and yet there’s still not a cure for cancer. Billions of dollars are spent during this time rather its using the major football leagues to promote NBC Awareness. I believe that when we have more people like you who are courages enough to speak the truth about the insensitivity of a major corporations then there is HOPE.
Perhaps we could use our common sense and take a hard look at how we work and how much time we spend at work and commuting to and from work. Just factor in all of your families needs exspcially if your have school age children or an infant or toddler. Child care cost are enormous and its difficult to leave your infant or toddler for at least 10 hours a day.
Then there’s environmental pollution, genetically modified foods that are sold daily in our grocery stores, often families are in such a hurry they give in to a quick fix and buy without reading the labels. . Poisoning their children with sugar and flower everyday not to mention the schools lunch program. Fast food chain restaurants are an easy pray for families whose children are paralyzed by the high end marking schemes which are designed to keep your children hooked on the super hero characters and the “Children’s Meals”. Years of buying into your children’s hypnotic state for some plastic toys aren’t worth setting your child up for long term food addition, diabetics and other childhood health related problems not to mention tooth decay.
I could go on and on and we wonder way cancer rates are so high. We don’t know rather it’s in our DNA or from the environment or the foods we eat. We are all human and we never know what’s going to happen tomorrow it’s the present that is really our gift. Cancer doesn’t have a date to show up it just shows up when you least expect it. Certainly an uninvited intrusive unwanted toxic cell invasion that has a “DOLLAR FIGURE ATTACHE”. .
Cancer has a way of trying to take over your life if you let it. We can change that together with a new work agenda. Employee’s have to change their work schedule or work from home to either care for a family member or to seek treatment for theirselves when diagnosed with caner. We still don’t have a cure for cancer, even with the multiple cancer drugs on the market that are outrageously too costly. According to The American Cancer Society the estimated cases of death in 2019 which was the latest statistical update, that there would be an estimated 1762,450 new cancers in the United States. Fortune 500 Companies need to be seated at the head of the table directly across from the uninvited cancer guest. If we don’t use our voice and take Presidential action for ourselves and our family. The AMERICAN People will never win the WAR on fighting CANCER no body will take us seriously. One person can change the destiny of a nation,
There’s no better time then now to ADVOCATE for cancer survivors and their families. Also, for those who just might think that it will never happen to them. Never ever expecting to be diagnosed with cancer, it’s a matter of time before they get their shocking diagnoses . I don’t know a family who hasn’t been impacted by cancer.
It just so happens that this is the kick off date for “National Breast Cancer Awarenesses Month” and yet we haven’t put in place a humanitarian workforce agenda for all American’s. Our Family Care Act is being compromised to the risk of millions of people loosing thier health insurance, now that’s criminal. We would rather send a space ship to Mars before we complete the cancer “MOON SHOOT”initiative. Our compassion for others has diminished below the depth of dignity. Why are we raising money for cancer patients from a walkathon or a race for the cure. THE US HAS SPENT TRILLIONS ON WARS during my lifetime and I’m 72 years old not to mention the WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. We must invest our money on making sure that we work together to find a cure for cancer. The best investment for AMERICA is in the healthcare and well being of all American Families. When cancer shows up in the family rather it’s the child, father or mother its devastating .
In 2021 AMERICA should have national budget that would cover all medical expenses and family household expenses while a family member to an employee is undergoing cancer treatment. NO ONE SHOULD EVER HAVE TO MAKE A CHOOCE BETWEEN ANY IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER AND THEIR JOB. IT’S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY HUMAN BEING IS CARED FOR TO THE BEST OF OUR UNITED STATES OF ONE AMERICA MINDSET. AS WE REFRAME WHAT AMERICA WILL BE LIKE IN 2021. WE CAN ALL ACT PRESIDENTIAL AND DO THE RIGHT THING. HEALTH IS BEFORE WEALTH. I WILL FIRST CALL TO ORDER A MEETING OF THE Fortune 500 COMPANIES. If they can figure our a way to be at the top of their game then surely they can figure out the best way to invest in their employee’s well being.
Diane Hampton, a breast cancer advocate and now a cancer patient recently diagnosed with 3rd stage endometrial cancer.
I pushed the post button accidentally before editing . Sorry
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