Pregnant Woman Forced Child-Free Colleague To Give Up Her Annual Leave Slot For Her

The workplace in the modern era is starting to shift from adults with families trying to make ends meet for their children to adults who choose to live child-free. There are even statistics showing how adults without kids are slowly outnumbering those with children.

This shift may be due to personal reasons or the increasing difficulty of sustaining a family in this era, but many have chosen to prioritize themselves and their careers. Whatever the reason, they should be treated fairly in the workplace.

However, some parents view themselves as entitled to more privileges. Just because they experience the challenges of parenthood or their children require more time from them, others are sometimes left to pick up the slack.

Of course, unless a colleague is willing, they shouldn’t be pressured to do this simply because others assume they don’t have the same ‘responsibilities.’ Their time off is also valid.

Take this OP, who was harassed by colleagues after winning the annual leave slot over someone who is pregnant. OP won it fair and square in a ballot that their workplace conducts when more than one person applies for the same date, but the colleague couldn’t accept the outcome.

This is how the story started

Hallelujah999

In OP’s company, to determine the priority of who can take leave, they conduct a ballot if more than one person wants a specific date.

Hallelujah999

OP won the slot and was looking forward to spending the holidays with her family.

Hallelujah999

The colleague who lost the ballot dropped hints to provoke OP into giving up her slot.

Hallelujah999

The colleague was pregnant with her fifth child and wanted the leave to spend time with her kids. In the end, she asked OP why she needed it if she wasn’t even a mom.

Hallelujah999

OP had had enough and bluntly told her that she deserved the slot she received and that everything was fair.

Hallelujah999

She also provided some clarification.

Hallelujah999

With people sharing their perspectives, OP realizes that she’s not in the wrong.

Hallelujah999

If the colleague continued to push, OP would resort to reporting her.

Hallelujah999

Another colleague approached OP and kept bothering her about letting the leave slot go to the pregnant co-worker.

Hallelujah999

It was actually the best friend of the pregnant colleague.

Hallelujah999

OP took it upon herself to report both of them to HR since they weren’t taking her seriously when she refused.

Hallelujah999

They had different shifts, so OP doesn’t have an update on whether HR has taken any action yet.

Hallelujah999

Many parents believe they have some sort of entitlement over those who don’t have children.

EsmeraldaWylde

This parent believes that fairness in the workplace is essential.

Elspeth_McRae

The situation in which child-free employees outnumber parents is possible; there is already a visible shift.

EsmeraldaWylde

This doesn’t mean they have to pick up the slack for people with kids unless they are willing.

EsmeraldaWylde

Contacting HR is a legal and practical move.

goldenhourbaby

Being badmouthed is grounds for even a basic write-up.

gaynazifurry4bernie

As if it’s an insult to be child-free rather than being a person who harasses their coworker.

DRUNK_CYCLIST

OP didn’t even make the rules for the ballots.

MrCarnality

The lady knows how to hold a grudge.

magneticeverything

And this happened on top of OP already...

magneticeverything

having an exhausting past two years.

magneticeverything

end of comment

magneticeverything

Stronger evidence in case things are prolonged.

ApplesAllDay1997

This would really come in handy for a fair decision.

Willy3726

Your needs in the workplace are valid as well, despite not having kids.

WonderMon

It was understandable that OP’s colleague would feel sad about losing the ballot, especially if she had looked forward to it. However, this doesn’t justify her provoking OP at every opportunity.

OP wasn’t the one responsible for deciding the leave slot in the first place. She suggested going to HR to complain, but instead, the colleague and her best friend took it all out on OP.