Grieving boss affecting business

Dear Annie: I’ve been at the same job for eight years, but since the boss’ wife died, it’s become almost impossible to work for him. He has started drinking at work and making inappropriate comments to customers. I’m at a loss as to what I should do.

This is a small business – it’s just the two of us running the place, so there is no one else to turn to for help. His children live in other states, and contacting them about this could result in them shutting the business down, putting me out of a job. He has some family here, but they don’t see a problem with his behavior. I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Do I contact his children? Do I let things continue, letting him destroy what remains of his reputation and mine in the process?

I enjoy helping the customers. I was planning on starting a similar business when he retires, but it feels like he’s dragging me down with the ship. – Concerned Employee

Dear Employee: Your boss is grieving and needs help. First, try to speak to him and suggest grief counseling. His doctor, local hospital or hospice can offer referrals. But you should also contact his children. They need to know that Dad is in bad shape and spiraling out of control. At the rate he is going, there won’t be a business left to close down, so you have little to lose. Please help him out.

Annie’s Snippet for Labor Day (Credit Martin Luther King Jr.): “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”