Boss under fire after texts to pregnant employee revealed

By News.com.au

Boss under fire after texts to pregnant employee revealed

An awkward text exchange between a pregnant employee and her boss over maternity leave has sparked outrage online.

UK career expert Ben Askins, known for calling out toxic workplace behavior on social media, shared the exchange with his followers, branding the employer 鈥渙ne of the top three of the worst bosses I鈥檝e come across鈥.

The TikTok video, which has been viewed nearly 590,000 times, features Ben reading aloud the highly uncomfortable text conversation.

It all began when the employee messaged her manager to confirm receipt of her email about taking maternity leave from February.

The boss鈥檚 response immediately raised eyebrows.

鈥淚 saw it, and I wanted to talk to you about it. Is there any way you鈥檇 consider reducing how long you want to take? If you are sure you are going to go ahead with it, would you be open to discussing it all? I am just a bit worried about the costs from our side,鈥 the boss said.

Taken aback, the woman tried to explain why she wanted to take her full, legally entitled leave 鈥 even offering to help ease the transition for her replacement.

鈥淥h OK, um I was kind of hoping to take as much time as possible. This is my first child and I wanted to get as used to being a parent as possible, especially as my family lives quite far away,鈥 she replied.

鈥淚 will ensure all my responsibilities are handed over seamlessly and help interview for mat cover but I really do want to take the full amount.鈥

But her boss doubled down, insisting her leave would place a 鈥渂urden鈥 on the small company.

鈥淭he challenge is that this is a small company, and it鈥檚 quite a burden to have to pay both your mat leave and your mat cover. I am just not sure how we can cope.鈥

Remaining polite, the woman stood her ground.

鈥淚 appreciate that but this isn鈥檛 fair to put on me, I am happy to support but I am well within my rights to do this,鈥 the employee said.

鈥淚 will try and support however I can, make sure everything is in place for a smooth handover and can also be on call for emergencies if that helps?

鈥淚s my pregnancy going to be a problem for my role in the company?鈥

Sensing he may have gone too far, the boss backpedalled.

鈥淣ot at all! Your pregnancy is absolutely fine by me, we are a family company.鈥

But he couldn鈥檛 resist adding another guilt trip: 鈥淛ust not ideal timing for me that is all. But if you are not going to help out and reduce the time then nothing really further for us to talk about I guess.鈥

Ben was appalled, telling viewers the exchange was 鈥渄isgusting鈥.

鈥淗e鈥檚 trying to use guilt to basically get her to kind of waive her rights 鈥 because you can then sort of go, 鈥極h no, she agreed with it,鈥欌 he said.

鈥淭hat is not her f***ing problem, that is your problem. If she鈥檚 not an equity holder, she鈥檚 not a director in the business, it鈥檚 not her company, that is your problem.鈥

Ben then praised the employee for making a 鈥渞easonable鈥 request, even going above and beyond to offer extra help despite being entitled to her full leave.

The video has since been flooded with furious comments, with many calling out the 鈥渕anipulative鈥 boss and others even suggesting legal action.

鈥淭his is not her problem,鈥 said one viewer.

鈥淭his is a lawsuit waiting to happen,鈥 said another.

鈥淪he should not have to explain herself,鈥 wrote a third.

It seems the incident struck a chord because many had similar horror stories.

鈥淚 had a line manager refuse to discuss it with me because 鈥榶our baby could still die right up until the end,鈥欌 shared one user.

鈥淢y old manager tried to convince me to have an abortion 鈥 they wondered why I didn鈥檛 want to go back after having my baby,鈥 wrote another.

In Australia, the Fair Work Act guarantees eligible employees up to 12 months鈥 unpaid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.

Some also qualify for government-funded parental leave pay or employer-funded leave 鈥 sometimes both.

And as many pointed out, maternity leave isn鈥檛 a 鈥渇avor鈥 鈥 it鈥檚 the law.

鈥淲ow 鈥. save this, go to an employment lawyer. Get settlement, enjoy!鈥 one commenter advised.

鈥淭his is a slam dunk mat discrimination case. Employers need to understand that claim awards are potentially unlimited,鈥 added another.

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