Linda Cellini Learns a Lesson

by: Bill Liblick

When a family member becomes ill there are decisions and sacrifices one must make. Often loved ones become caregivers.  

The natural thing for Linda Cellini to do when her husband Town of Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini became severely ill earlier this year was to be by his bedside.

She never in her wildest imagination thought that the board of directors of our local chapter of the United Way would be so unsympathetic to her during her time of family crises. After all, her 23 year stint helped to turn the organization into what it is today.

Linda believed she was not walking away from her employment, but instead was going to care for her husband in the hospital and do her job simultaneously.

When Tony was transported to New York City, she was informed of Family Health leave, but Linda felt she could not afford to go without a paycheck. She told me she kept in contact with her office almost every day, and had access to a computer, fax, copier, and e-mail thanks to Mt. Sinai Hospital. 

Linda’s job was not hourly, and she never received overtime when she worked after normal business hours. Earlier this year she received enormous praise throughout Sullivan County for putting together seminars on street gangs.

Linda said she often drove back to Sullivan County for meetings and worked with new staff members while her husband was in the hospital. Her sons stayed at Tony’s side while she was gone. Tony praised the United Way for the “wonderful” way in which they were treating Linda.

The board of the United Way apparently saw things differently. They claim Linda owes them for the time she spent while at her ailing husband's bedside. They asked her for a full accounting of her time, and to give up vacation and sick days.

Linda told me her heart was broken, so she decided to leave the job she loved. She stressed to me that she still believes in the United Way and their mission, and that she is “proud of all of the good that has been done.”

She recently took a job with the YMCA. Her new job was structured to her personal needs.  Her goal will be to raise enough money through grants and private contributions to eventually build a YMCA center in Sullivan County.

The United Way, as expected has argued that there is another side to the Linda Cellini saga. They claim they have bent over backwards to accommodate her. But, the fact still remains that after 23 years of dedicated service, Linda Cellini left under unpleasant and questionable circumstances.

I find what happened to Linda Cellini extremely troublesome. I can relate first hand with her desire to be at Tony’s bedside. I once walked away from a television contract in California to return to New York to care for my ailing aunt and her mentally challenged daughter. People at the time said I was crazy and that I had to live my own life, but I knew I could not live with myself if I took such advice. Yes, it took a toll, but I would do it all over again if I had to. And, I know Linda Cellini would do the same, as would so many other people.

Employers tend to only need you for what they can get out of you. It is the “what have you done for me lately” theory. It is a very cold and cruel world out there, and we all discover that in one way or another.

Fortunately, legislation has been proposed to work out a formula to protect workers when they must leave their employment in times of family emergencies.

Unfortunately, Linda Cellini learned the hard way that caring for a loved one while also being employed might not be the United or American Way.

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