I can only repeat it time and time again, until it is really present for every American. This is not normal. In most countries in the world you have the right to paid sick leave and you have the right to leave work for a family emergency. You cannot be fired for taking either and just the idea that it should be different gets people on the street.
Do not take this kind of bullshit. Especially now that boomers are retiring on mass, the employers need every hand they can get.