Dealing with a Pregnant Coworkers Excessive Breaks: Am I in the Wrong?
AITAH for addressing my pregnant coworker's excessive breaks, impacting work productivity and deadlines?
Some people think “being supportive” means swallowing every problem that walks through the office door. This one turned into a full-on workplace standoff, and it started with something that should have been simple: a coworker’s pregnancy and the morning sickness that comes with it.
The OP, a 27-year-old man, works with a 30-year-old pregnant coworker who has been taking frequent, extra-long breaks because she’s dealing with fatigue and nausea. At first, he covered for her, no big deal. But now the breaks are stacking up, tasks are staying unfinished, and deadlines are getting missed, which has the manager watching productivity like a hawk.
When the OP gently suggested she limit her breaks, she called him unsupportive, and suddenly the whole team is stressed and wondering who’s really in the wrong.
Original Post
I (27M) work with a coworker (30F) who's pregnant. Recently, she's been taking frequent breaks due to morning sickness and fatigue.
Initially, I didn't mind and covered for her. However, it's becoming excessive and affecting work.
She takes extra-long breaks, leaving tasks unfinished. Our manager is growing concerned about productivity.
I gently suggested she limit breaks but she got upset, claiming I'm unsupportive. She's been missing deadlines, causing stress for the team.
Am I the a*****e for addressing this with her?
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At first, OP covered for her, but the “extra-long” breaks started leaving work unfinished, and the manager noticed right away.
This gets messy in the same way as the coworker who asked for pregnancy-shift coverage and sparked a fight.
Once deadlines began slipping, OP’s concern stopped being quiet and started affecting the whole team’s workload.
The moment OP suggested she limit breaks, her reaction flipped the situation from “helping” to “you’re unsupportive.”
Now that the manager is growing concerned about productivity, OP is wondering if he handled it wrong, or if she crossed the line.
We'd love to hear your take on this situation. Share your thoughts below.
Nobody wants to be the villain when deadlines are falling apart, but that’s exactly what this office is turning into.
Still dealing with a pregnant coworker’s constant interruptions, like the ultrasounds that drove this office to a breaking point? Read this AITA about wanting boundaries after nonstop ultrasound updates.
