Paid time off is a precious commodity among employees that can cause a lot of unwantedoffice drama. Many of these incidents seem to rise with the holidays approaching, as you’re about to read.
A womanrefused to switch shifts with a co-worker who wanted to spend Thanksgiving with her children. She finds it unacceptable tofeel “pressured”and give way to colleagues withparental obligations.
The employee now asks the AITAH subreddit if her actions were uncalled for. Below, you’ll find the entire story and mixed responses from readers.
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Paid time off can cause serious drama between co-workers
Image credits:Daniel Martinez/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
This woman refused to switch shifts with a colleague who wanted to spend Thanksgiving with her children
Image credits:Karolina Grabowska/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
She believes it is unfair for non-parents like her to give way to employees with kids constantly
Image credits:HuntMuted5501
Parents and child-free employees experience some form of unfair treatment
Image credits:Jason Goodman/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
While the author is seemingly within reason to cry foul over supposed “unfair” treatment for being child-free, her colleague and other parent employees experience the same struggles.
However, this survey shows that child-free employees may have it tougher. 63% of respondents saw them being denied time off, and 69% noticed they had to work overtime at least once. 70% of respondents claim their non-parent colleagues were given a heavier workload.
As for employees with kids, 48% of survey respondents believe they are likelier to be promoted, and 53% said they have better chances of getting a raise.
Here’s a staggering statistic: 81% of survey takers “strongly agree” that child-related absences are more important.
Apart from these numbers, recruiting consultantAimee Faheyshares a similar observation. As she stated in an interview withHuffPost, employees with children “get preference” for more flexible work schedules and an “unspoken acceptance” of kid-related events having more importance than their child-free counterparts.
Speaking out against the biases toward parent employees is necessary
Image credits:Alexander Dummer/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Many professionals have begun to point out what appears to be discrimination againstchild-free employeesin the workplace.
In an article forFast Company, Brand Velocity Group’s Chief of People and Culture OfficerLauren Serotacalled for paid sabbatical leave for workers without kids, as parents have their maternity and paternity leaves.
She also proposed flexible working hours and conditions for ALL employees, regardless of their obligations outside their jobs.
But until that happens across the board, child-free employees must speak out. Licensed clinical psychologistDr. Ellen Walkersuggests doing so assertively.
“Ask that leave away from work be offered on an equal basis so that everyone can have the opportunity to focus ondreamsand aspirations,” Dr. Walker wrote in an article forPsychology Today.
It all comes down to taking responsibility for one’s decisions and respecting each other’s needs. As Dr. Walker noted in closing, give yourself some leeway to leave work early without feeling guilty, like how you’d show generosity to a colleague who needs to clock out early to attend their kid’s soccer game.
“Childfree adults, you do not need toapologizefor your choice,” she wrote.
The author took a stand and even suggested that her colleague celebrate another day. Besides, she had hertime off scheduledahead of time and is entitled to it.
Some readers sided with the author
Those who didn’t gave her the “you’ll feel different when you have kids” spiel
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