5-year-old daughter appears on dad's work screen for 2 seconds during 8:30 PM meeting, HR reprimands him: 'I don't think I can work here anymore'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Sep 19, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

Remote work is something we're all still figuring out. We remain in the beginning phases of what will become a long history of folks working from home, or wherever they happen to be. So it follows that not everyone has the same definition of working from home. Some employers hope that you have a room to lock yourself in for 8 hours while no one interrupts you. Some employees enjoy the flexibility to do their laundry, make lunch, or pick up their kids from school. 

Most teams are able to work it out with a sense of compassion and understanding. But not all. That's the unfortunate position one father found himself in when his 5-year-old daughter made an appearance at his work meeting. A normal thing that happens in the course of remote work. But that's not what his employers thought. Read on for the story and see what you think. 

Advertisement
  • 01
    BBBBBBB 19 9
    via Lucian Novosel
  • 02
    5yo daughter appears on camera for 2 seconds and I get a call from HR
    via u/wesblog
  • 03
    I am a senior remote employee navigating a new-ish job. I typically work all hours, signing on at 6:30AM and finishing around 9PM -- but I still do things like drop my kids off at school etc mid day.
    via u/wesblog
  • 04
    I attend a recurring 8:30PM leadership meeting. My wife was out of town last week, so I gave my 5yo daughter a tablet and let her sit in the office while I took the 8:30PM call. At one point she got up and momentarily peered over my shoulder. It didn't cause a disturbance and I wasnt even embarrassed. These things happen right?
    via u/wesblog
  • 05
    At 4:30 on Friday I got a call from HR sharing that the CEO didn't like my child appearing in the video and he is now requiring I work from a WeWork.
    via u/wesblog
  • 06
    I politely declined and said I would not be going to a WeWork -- The company reconsidered, but now I dont think I can work here any more. Am I being unreasonable or would other remote jobs freak out like this?
    via u/wesblog
  • 07
    LiveDirtyEatClean • 3d ago To be honest the fact that you work from 6:30-9 is insane and you should just get a new job because of that alone
    via u/LiveDirtyEatClean
  • 08
    wesblog OP • 3d ago I probably only do a reasonable 40-45 hours of solid work/meetings each week, but I remain online and available as much as possible to avoid blocking tasks that may rely on me... This setup always worked well for me in past roles, but I dont think it is working at this company.
    via u/wesblog
  • 09
    Everheart1955 3d ago Online is working. They're using your time.
    via u/Everheart1955
  • 10
    BarneyIX 3d ago Start looking for a new job now. Don't quit. Keep doing good work but stick to your guns and try to leave on your terms if possible. I'm sorry you're going through something like this. A child being in the room where you work should not be an issue.
    via u/BarneyIX
  • 11
    500ravens 3d ago • I've worked remote for 3 years and my boss typically has her baby son on her lap during meetings. We actually love to see kiddos pop into our all-hands meetings every week. Find a place that treats you like a human. They exist.
    via u/500ravens
  • 12
    HisDudeness316 • 3d ago 6.30am until 9pm? Mate, your daughter won't be a little kid for long. Stop working those preposterous hours and focus on her. You will regret it for the rest of your life if you don't.
    via u/HisDudeness316
  • 13
    artful_todger_502 · 3d ago I work remote and on calls all the time. I'm an independent contractor so I deal with a lot of different companies, and even the ones with a high level of obnoxious people don't even use cameras after onboarding rituals. Forcing cameras is for blohard managers, more than anything else.
    via u/artful_todger_502
  • 14
    Kids are part of life. I'd be very wary of someone who thought your tiny episode of life was an issue of any degree
    via u/artful_todger_502
  • 15
    BeachmontBear 3d ago • The occasional disruption is normal, your company's response is not. Heck, I once had a video call with a cat's ■ for 10 minutes and nobody complained because everyone understands that happens, so I think that icky feeling you are having is justified.
    via u/BeachmontBear
  • 16
    Disastrous-Will-7026 3d ago • I have cats and they appear on camera if I have it on and they step on my keyboard and send Teams messages to bosses and coworkers. I will not be locking cats/children out of a room. The former CEO of my company told everyone that no one should be yelling at their kids for winding up on camera during meetings. In fact, it was encouraged.
    via u/Disastrous-Will-7026
  • 17
    Sir_Icy_Farts . 3d ago They want you to work from a wework because you are also taking care of a child or because the child appeared on camera or both? Either way, that is nonsense. Hold the job but defn start looking for a different job. I can't stand companies that don't create space for doing life things as long as work is getting done. Most companies wouldn't react this way I think.
    via u/Sir_Icy_Farts
  • 18
    Environmental-Leg 180 3d ago • First, why are you attending meetings at 8:30pm? Is it a time zone issue? Why are you working such long hours (I understand there are breaks in between for personal stuff). Does the company expect that from you?
    via u/Environmental-Leg
  • 19
    I don't think what happened with your child was that bad...it would be different if you were in an important call and the child is throwing a tantrum/screaming etc for longer than 30 seconds.
    via u/Environmental-Leg
  • 20
    Ideally, as a remote employee you should be free from distractions but it's incredibly unrealistic when you have children, pets, or room mates in the home who may or may not be capable of/or willing to respect boundaries that you set.
    via u/Environmental-Leg
  • 21
    If a company is going to be this difficult in this situation I can't imagine what they would do if were to hit the fan and you would need actual support and flexibility or something.
    via u/Environmental-Leg
  • 22
    wesblog OP • 3d ago Its a startup so I do my best to keep things moving quickly by being responsive and taking meetings when others are available. I think I feel so betrayed because I believe I have been going beyond normal expectations and being criticized for it. It would have been pretty normal for me to decline most, if not all, after hours meetings.
    via u/wesblog

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

boss work from home antiwork workplace-stories remote work toxic-workplace job bosses work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss wfh workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
Scroll Down For The Next Article