A Pregnant Woman Was Forced To Sit In A Meeting While In Labor, And Her Coworkers Are Now Blaming Her For Reporting The Boss
Workplace mistreatment is always wrong, but this Reddit story about a pregnant woman who was forced to attend a work meeting while in active labor is absolutely wild.
A user, IllSituation6855, is questioning her decision to report her boss to human resources for demanding she stay for a work meeting, even though she was having contractions. Now, her work life is a disaster.
Here’s the full story: “I (28, female) have been working at my company for five years, and until recently, I loved my job. I was eight months pregnant when this happened (about a month ago), so I started having contractions while at work. Since I was not due yet, I thought it was just Braxton Hicks because they weren’t that intense. Just a week before that, I had experienced Braxton Hicks and went to the hospital, but it was a false alarm.”
“This time, I was still working when the contractions started in the morning, and I again thought it was Braxton Hicks. I didn’t want to cause a scene, so I tried to keep working. The last time I went to the hospital, my boss, ‘John’ (45, male), made sarcastic comments about me being overly dramatic and joked about how I should ‘schedule’ my labor around important meetings. I have social anxiety and tend to take people’s crap without pushing back, so I just took it.”
“By noon, the contractions were getting stronger and closer together, and I knew it was real labor. I needed to go to the hospital. I informed John that I was in labor and needed to leave. He rolled his eyes and said, ‘Just stay for the meeting at 1 p.m. It’s crucial, and we need you there.'”
“I was stunned. I reiterated that I was in active labor and needed to go to the hospital immediately. John snapped back, ‘It’s just a meeting. Sit through it, and then you can go. It’s not like the baby is going to pop out right now.’ Feeling pressured and scared for my job, I reluctantly stayed.”
“The meeting lasted an excruciating two hours. By the end of it, I was in so much pain that I could barely walk. I finally left and drove myself to the hospital, where I was admitted immediately.”
“When I told my husband what had happened, he was furious and insisted we report John to HR. I was hesitant because I didn’t want to jeopardize my job, but I agreed it was the right thing to do. HR was appalled and assured me they would handle the situation. John has since been suspended pending an investigation.”
“The real kicker? During the investigation, it came out that John had emailed the entire office while I was in labor, complaining about my ‘lack of commitment’ and making fun of me for ‘overreacting.’ He even implied that I was using my pregnancy as an excuse to get out of work.”
“Now, my coworkers are pissed at me, saying I overreacted and that I should have just sucked it up for the sake of the company. I’ve even received messages and emails from a few colleagues saying that I’ve ‘ruined’ John’s career and that he was just doing his job under pressure. One even said that I should have ‘toughed it out’ like their wife did during her pregnancy.”
“The stress from this whole ordeal has made it difficult to enjoy my first few days with my newborn. I’m constantly second-guessing myself and feeling guilty despite knowing I did what was best for my baby and me.”
“To make matters worse, the interim manager who took over from John is even worse. He’s made it clear to everyone that he resents my actions and has made my return to work unbearable. Now that my maternity leave is over, I find myself isolated at work. People give me side-eyes and whisper about me. During lunch, I’m alone because no one wants to sit with the ‘troublemaker.'”
“I cry most of the time when I come home and sometimes even in the office washroom when someone passes a comment. In the worst moments, I get mad at my husband and blame him for making me tell HR, even though I know he did the right thing. He’s so sweet and never takes it to heart. I apologize soon after, but he always says he wasn’t even mad and that he understands how I’m feeling, especially since I’m just one month postpartum.”
“He says I should take action and complain, but I don’t want to make things worse. He’s also saying he can’t see me like this and that I should just quit because it’s hurting him. I don’t know what to do; I’m just such a sensitive and emotional person in general, and now it’s been worse since giving birth. Am I the asshole for reporting my boss after he forced me to attend a meeting despite knowing I was in labor?”
Many people in the comments agreed that the pregnant woman was 100% NOT the asshole in this situation. “Your boss is a complete and utter disgrace; forcing you to stay during labor is not just unethical, it’s potentially criminal,” user PositionSuch1097 wrote.
“You did the right thing by reporting him. Your health and your baby’s health come first. Your coworkers who are siding with him clearly have no empathy or understanding of basic human decency. You deserve to work in an environment where you are respected and treated with dignity, not bullied and coerced into putting your life at risk.”
“If someone that’s nine months pregnant is crucial to a business meeting, then that’s shit management,” user you-did-ask agreed.
One user recommended the woman get an attorney to deal with the harassment she’s facing at work.
“It’s far past time to stop dealing with HR and consult with an employment attorney. This is a textbook hostile workplace with the hostility being due to a protected status. OP should stop dealing with this BS, let a lawyer, and likely enjoy some additional time with her little one on the company’s dime for their discrimination, harassment, and toxic work culture.”
—Owain-X
What do you think about this situation? Let us know in the comments below.
