Woman Refuses To Cover Pregnant Coworker's Workload, Gets Called Out

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mattstaff
May 9, 2021 2:00 PM EDT

Oh boy, buckle on up for some more fun drama between coworkers. This time around, we've got a woman dealing with being called out by her pregnant coworker because she refused to pick up her extra work when she was on maternity leave. It seems totally reasonable that she didn't want to deal with the extra work, and especially when you factor in the fact that the lady had an assistant who could deal with the work while she was out. The moral judges of Reddit's AITA community were in agreement that her decision to not cover the extra work was in fact totally understandable. 

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  • 01
    Font - AITA for not taking over my pregnant coworker's workload? | [30F] have been working at the company for 2 years. My co-worker [28F] (lets call her Liddy) had just announced she is 8 weeks pregnant (1st pregnancy), had been going through horrible morning sickness. Liddy planned to take a month unpaid leave while she goes through her first trimester. She had asked HR, and they allowed it because it was a legit reason. Apparently HR told her that she needed to find someone to take over work f
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  • 02
    Font - Liddy had suggested to them that I takeover her work while she takes her leave. When HR approached me with the suggestion, I refused it. Well because, to put it bluntly, it is not my problem that she wanted to get pregnant and all, even if I am happy for her. She could have easily work from home, or get her assistant to do it for her. Bear in mind that I would not get paid extra for doing her work, it will just be me doubling my workload for the same pay. Now HR can't legally force me to
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  • 03
    Font - Am I the TL;DR - pregnant coworker wanted to take leave and leave me with her workload. I refused and she called me an Her assistant ended up with the work instead. 2.2k 295 ↑, Share
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  • 04
    Mammal - lauralikesstuff • 10h • Partassipant [1] NTA for sure. However HR is TA - it shouldn't be on the employee taking leave to fill their own position, HR should be sorting that out themselves. 6 Reply 1 4.4k 3 ...
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  • 05
    Font - walnutwithteeth • 11h · Partassipant [1] NTA. I'm not sure where you're based or the legalities behind it, but it should be on the employer to find suitable cover for a role if the absence is planned, not the individual employee. If you are already working at capacity then you are within your rights not to take on more especially if there is no increased pay. She's being an AH for badmouthing you. G Reply 4 181 +
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  • 06
    Rectangle - StreamAngler · 10h NTA. That pay she is going without needs to be directed towards the people doing the work. From a management viewpoint, you may have made your job obsolete if the same amount and quality of work can be done by a lower level employee with supervision. G Reply 11 3 + ...
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  • 07
    Font - infekteded · 7h NTA - If it's viewed as inconsiderate to not take in the extra load, why aren't any of the other employees offering to fill in their time for the extra work? G Reply 4 16 3 ...
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  • 08
    Font - Andwhataboutitties • 10h Then why does she have an assistant if whenever she'll be out of the office she'll pick somebody else to do her job? I believe there'd be no questions, the assistant should do it even if they aren't qualified for some things Liddy does. While it's not her fault to fall pregnant and less for taking time out of the job, since it's a right, she's an AH for giving your name to HR without consulting with you first. She probably did so because she believed you'd have sa
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  • 09
    Rectangle - Maximoose-777 • 10h · Partassipant [3] NTA if you can do her job in addition to your own, why is she needed in the company. You would be setting yourself up to doing 2 jobs if she chooses to leave G Reply 4 24 3 ...
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  • 10
    Organism - kipha01 • 10h • Partassipant [4] NTA - expecting someone to double workload with no extra pay is ridiculous, shared cover across multiple people is not so bad but putting all on one person is just silly. G Reply ...
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  • 11
    Font - vrcraftauthor • 9h NTA The company should hire a temp, not expect another employee to do extra work for free. G Reply ...
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  • 12
    Font - hellyeahbeeech • 5h I'm torn between e-s-h and n-a-h. The company is definitely the problem. You're lashing out at her, she's lashing out at you, when both of you should be angry with the company. It's like two women tearing each other apart because the guy was cheating and lying. The company is pitting the two of you against each other to solve the labor issue instead of taking care of its responsibilities. G Reply 4 65 3 ...
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  • 13
    Font - Writesaurus · 9h NTA. It's your companies job to find a replacement for Liddy and not just push her work on someone else G Reply ...
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  • 14
    Font - AnotaCocktail· 8h • Professor Emeritass [81] NTA. But Liddy and HR are. She's an AH for suggesting you do it without speaking to you first. And for trying to turn coworkers against you. And the coworkers are AHs too for passing judgement that you aren't being helpful, while also not offering their help. Ultimately, HR is the top AH. Because it's literally their job to find a solution. Not to tell Liddy she has to find cover before being granted medical leave. And more work should equal mo
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  • 15
    Rectangle - verminiusrex • 6h NTA. It's one thing to pick up a few extra duties for awhile if someone is gone temporarily and they spread out the workload, but no way put up with having your job duties doubled without compensation. HR needs to hire a temp. G Reply ...
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  • 16
    Font - DiligentPenguin16 · 5h NTA. It's not your responsibility to solve staffing issues for your job (and it's not Liddy's either, this sounds like HR was being lazy). It's also totally reasonable to refuse double the work for the same pay. If they wanted you to do all/the majority of her work then you should be appropriately compensated for that. Also- if it bugs your coworkers so much why aren't they volunteering to take on her workload so they can be the "helpful, considerate team players"?
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  • 17
    Product - Malachite_Macchiato · 5h · Partassipant [2] NTA. If Liddy is unable to work and complete her duties, then the company should hire a temp, not put all of her work on someone else with additional compensation. G Reply ... +
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  • 18
    Font - Batoutofhell2050 • 9h NTA. Co worker decided you could do it without asking you. Told HR that and wow other coworkers are against you too. I wonder how they would feel if they had to do the extra work. People are always quick to volenteer someone else for extra work but not themselves. I think so far only a few picked up on that. Maybe she can't do all of her work but why can't she do any from home? G Reply 4 10 3 ...
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  • 19
    Smile - srnic1987 · 7h NTA - it is literally HR's job to find cover for your pregnant coworker. Not hers. Not yours. HR dept are huge a-holes and Liddy is a very mild A-hole for badmouthing you. + G Reply
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  • 20
    Font - MiclsOn • 10h · Partassipant [1] NTA. G Reply ...
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  • 21
    Font - leafandstone · 6h NTA. You're allowed to refuse extra workload. That's why they have to ask G Reply ...
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  • 22
    Font - electricstaplerchan • 5h NTA If other co workers call you an AH, ask why THEY didn't offer to take the work themselves? G Reply
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  • 23
    Font - 4614065 · 9h • Certified Proctologist [22] NTA I don't think Liddy is, either, but there are far better ways for your organisation to sort this one out. G Reply ...
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  • 24
    Font - NTA. Its not your job to do double workload for same pay. Personally l'd say yes if they also gave me her pay on top, as the company would be getting the same outputs for less costs otherwise (as she is taking unpaid leave). Or at least they could have been sensible and have everyone a little part of her workload each. G Reply ...
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  • 25
    Rectangle - gwynhiblaidd · 7h • Partassipant [3] NTA. If she had an assistant I am wondering why she wanted you to take over her work in the first place. Anyways you are not TA here. G Reply ...
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  • 26
    Font - Unsolicitedadvice13 · 6h NTA. If they're willing to compensate you fairly then fine, but why would you double your workload without being paid for it G Reply ...
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  • 27
    Rectangle - XxBubblyBoixX•5h NTA, the main reason i came to this was how it wasn't going to be paid, just double workload with the same pay AND the assistant does nothing and still gets paid G Reply ...
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  • 28
    Rectangle - TheDarkKnight1035 · 5h NTA You had no incentive to take on more work and stress. You're not being difficult just to be difficult. You're looking out for your own well-being. G Reply ...
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  • 29
    Font - Smiley-Canadian • 4h NTA. You should be paid for any extra work. G Reply ...
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  • 30
    Product - ClericForTheDead • 4h • Partassipant [1] NTA, They either need to pay you for the extra workload or find a temp G Reply ...
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