Pregnancy can be filled with challenges and joys. What one woman didn't expect was a challenge to come from her workplace, at the hands of her boss. This is a story of how one decision, made under extreme circumstances, led to an unexpected and complex aftermath.
I (28F) 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" (45M), 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 nonsense without pushing back, so I just took it.
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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 PM. 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.
My husband reached 30–40 minutes later because he was on the other side of town for a meeting. My daughter was born later that evening, thankfully healthy despite the delay.
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."
It feels like high school all over again. I dread going to work each day and facing hostility and judgment. I never imagined that doing what was right for my health and my baby’s well-being would turn my colleagues against me like this. It’s gut-wrenching to feel so isolated and vilified for simply standing up for myself and my rights.
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.
We hope this experience taught her invaluable lessons about prioritization, communication, and the complexities of workplace ethics. As she moves forward, we hope she finds a way to reconcile her actions with her values and to foster a more supportive and understanding environment for herself and others in similar situations.
