We’ve all heard horror stories about male employers who don’t understand how women’s bodies work and refuse them such basic needs as bathroom breaks or access to menstrual products, or the time and space to pump breastmilk in accordance with federal laws. The boss in this story, though, goes beyond anything imaginable.
In this story, the boss, whose employee generously gave him the courtesy of anonymity, identifying him only as “John,” actually forbade her to leave work while she was in active labor! The new mom says she’s the sort of person who struggles to speak up for herself, and tends to be a little timid and a people-pleaser, so she uncomfortably (painfully) obeyed orders.
Seeking Justice
It was only after the baby was delivered — safely despite the circumstances, thank goodness — that, at her husband’s urging, the hardworking mother decided she had an obligation to report her boss’s bad behavior, potentially protecting other women from suffering a similar fate. That’s when things went from bad to worse.
Instead of rallying behind her, the new mother says that her coworkers turned against her, blaming her for the aftermath. She says that the work environment is now more hostile than ever.
How It Started
The 28-year-old woman was 8 months pregnant, working at the job she’d held for 5 years. Since she shares this in a Reddit post (below), the mom stays anonymous in this story. About a week before, she had experienced some contractions, and panicked, since it was too early for the baby to come.
(Typically a pregnancy is expected to last between 39 and 41 weeks. Until around 2013, 37 weeks was still considered ‘term,’ but the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology now uses a narrower definition since babies born after 39 weeks are less likely to suffer certain health conditions than those born just a week or two earlier.)
In that instance, it turned out that she was suffering Braxton Hicks contractions, not actual labor. Her boss, John, made fun of her for overreacting, although it’s a safe bet her medical team would never have considered her concerns an overreaction at that point in the pregnancy.
(Please never ever be afraid to contact your obstetrician if there’s a concern!)
Active Labor Hits
The problem began when the pregnant employee realized she was having contractions again, about an hour before an important meeting at work. Trying to stave off a crisis, she located her boss and told him she thought she needed to go to the hospital. She describes his reply:
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.”
Neither John nor the employee realized she was in active labor, although it became more apparent to her as she suffered through the meeting. Eventually, it was over and she sought medical care.
The Aftermath
When she reported John’s bad behavior, the investigation revealed that he had also sent out an extremely unprofessional mass email attacking the employee and accusing her of using her pregnancy as an excuse to get out of work.
He was removed from his position, and the worst part for the new mom was that everyone in the office seemed to blame her. She says she’s gotten emails accusing her of ruining the former boss’s career.
Meanwhile, his replacement is also difficult to work with, and she says her coworkers are blaming her for that, too. They freeze her out like middle schoolers in a cafeteria, and she’s starting to wonder if maybe reporting John was a mistake.
You can see the full story in her own words below.
The Viral Reddit Post
Reception
Overall, Reddit commenters are rushing to tell the employee that she’s not the bad guy in this story. Many of them say her co-workers are being ridiculous, that she’s in a toxic work environment, and that she should look for a different job if possible.
They’re also pointing out that it was her boss who endangered not only the employee and her baby, but the company itself. One opined:
HR knows that if something had happened to you and your baby the company would’ve have been in deep, deep trouble. Your manager could have really damaged them. That’s why he’s in trouble.
Others point out that the boss’s behavior while she was in labor might not just be unethical, but potentially criminal. Some are calling for her to escalate the issue, hire an employment attorney, and file a EEOC complaint.
So far, a few days after the initial post, the employee hasn’t shared any updates — perhaps because she’s busy juggling her newborn and her job, or perhaps because an attorney advised her to keep things quiet until the case is filed.
We’ll all hope for a good outcome for her, whatever she decides to do.
