Worker calls out due to daughter's meltdown, boss replies 'NO' with no further explanation: 'My job offers no benefits [...] and I only make 14/hr'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Feb 16, 2025 11:00 AM EST

It's pretty much universally understood that when you're calling out of work, you're letting them know, not asking permission. Odds are if you're calling out you're either sick, someone in your family is sick, or otherwise having an emergency. It's not something to be taken lightly. This is especially true if you have children. Everyone you work with should acknowledge the fact that family is going to come first, no matter what. You have a job to support your family, so when the job gets in the way, it's clear which side you're going to take. This should be no surprise to employers, who likely have families of their own as well. 

It doesn't always manifest that way, though. Sometimes managers get their priorities mixed up and lose sight of the important things in life. This often leads to conflict and doesn't always end well for every party involved. (AKA someone is bound to quit or get fired).

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    Cheezburger Image 10467916544
    via Alexandre Boucher

  • That's the sort of situation that one worker found themselves in when they suddenly had to call out of work due to a family emergency. Instead of being met with understanding and sympathy, though, they were treated like a child by their own employer. Read on to see what they said and consider what you would have done in that situation. 

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    Called out of work due to my daughter

    I called out of work a little short of 2 hours due to my daughter she had a complete breakdown/rage and I couldn't leave her alone with my mother in law she's 70+yrs old. My boss texts me back saying No you need to come in. ( I didn't ask for permission I'm telling you ). Boss
    via u/feyre_darling92
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    kept replying saying NO like they were talking to a 5 year old. Told my boss again I'm not coming in & that my daughter takes priority over work. My job offers no benefits-No sick time, holiday pay, PTO absolutely nothing and I only make 14/hr. So if I call out I loose pay who TF thinks a parent is going to put their employment (even if I was making way more per hour) before their kid. Just had to vent.
    via u/feyre_darling92
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    Other workers swooped in to condemn this kind of behavior.

    Durkinsteln ⚫ 13h ago Your boss is a piece of ship
    via u/Durkinste1n
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    feyre_darling92 OP · 13h ago . Yes. My boss thinks their employment is some holy grail like you don't offer sh & low pay. Even if I was making $25/hr I still wouldn't put my employment over my health or my family. We weren't meant to be ruled by employers we were meant to live & enjoy life. yes work is important but it's not meant to be above family.
    via u/feyre_darling92
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    thetrickyginger 12h ago . I work in a factory making about $38/hr, and there's an unspoken rule. Family is priority. You tell your supervisor you need to leave, and it's not an "hey, can I leave?" It's "hey, I'm leaving due to serious family issues. Figure something out". Nobody ever gets in trouble over it because that's how supervisors get their cars set on fire. Your boss can eat a bag of
    via u/thetrickyginger
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    Punkinsmom 12h ago . I quit a very high paying on the spot when a (new - trying to flex) manager told me I couldn't take one week of the five weeks of PTO I had in the bank when there was a situation with my kids, their dad and DV. I yanked my kids home, had no child care planned (because it was suppose to be his time).
    via u/Punkinsmom
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    Honestly that was one of the favorite jobs I had ever had, but my kids mean more to me than anything ever in this world. The director begged me to come back but I was like, "Nope - people have emergencies, learn to deal with them better in the future."
    via u/Punkinsmom
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    Nichi1971 12h ago Workplaces that pay the least always expect the most.
    via u/Nichi1971
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    That_Shape_1094 • 12h ago Told my boss again I'm not coming in & that my daughter takes priority over work. You shouldn't have replied to anything after the initial message. Don't engage, don't justify your actions, don't explain yourself.
    via u/That_Shape_1094
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    . jeeves 585 11h ago When my kid was born I decided I will never work on her birthday. I can go find another job if that's a deal breaker. Period. End of sentence.
    via u/jeeves585
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    emma_kayte 12h ago • If you've been there over a year and in US apply for FMLA for care of a family member. Apply for intermittent leave so you can take days off as needed for times like this I set up fmla for things like this all day at my job. It's unpaid but it'll protect your job
    via u/emma_kayte
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    oracleoflove. 11h ago You are a good parent! An amazing one in fact, my parents growing up would never miss work to make sure I was okay. Thank you for looking out for your child. A
    via u/oracleoflove
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    Cheezburger Image 10467917056
    via Juliane Liebermann
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    oddoboy • 13h ago . Just take the kid to work and they will get the point
    via u/oddoboy
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    Suspicious-Care-5264 • 10h ago . Two months ago I pinged my boss to ask for the day off because I was sick. Her literal response was "Don't ask, just tell me. Get some rest. Hope you feel better!" And that's stuck with me ever since. I'm lucky to work for a company and under leadership that values
    via u/Suspicious-Care-5264
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    family and work-life balance, but man general work culture really makes you feel like you have to ask permission to take a sh sometimes. My boss' response has me realizing that I don't need to ask permission to be human.
    via u/Suspicious-Care-5264
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    • digitalmonsterz89 9h ago Your boss is a idiot I've been a manager for 12ish years now, when someone calls out, it's not up for debate. Give them the time needed and keep it moving, no need to harp on them. I rarely get call outs but my team knows I won't break their b lls if they need the day off.
    via u/digitalmonsterz89
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    Pottski 11h ago • Time to start sharing the boss' texts with HR and demanding action for unprofessional conduct.
    via u/Pottski
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    wittylemur 12h ago • If more education isnt a solid option then my advice is to try to get a clerical job in healthcare. You should be able to make a little more money plus you would have regular hours and likely PTO. Look at local dentist and optometrist office. It's a good place to get your foot in the door and can lead to better jobs and maybe a career.
    via u/wittylemur
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    SpiritofLiberty78 12h ago Sounds like grounds to organize your workplace to me. If you were in a union no way would you need to put up with that sh...
    via u/SpiritofLiberty78
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    Spaced OutTrashPanda . 12h ago I have been there. My daughter has adhd and when she started kindergarten, the school called me regularly to pick her up due to her being disregulated. My boss hated it. And eventually "pushed" me into quitting. So i did and found an amazing job
    via u/SpacedOutTrashPanda
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    with amazing bosses. I took a pay cut switching jobs, but they never made me feel bad for missing work due to my daughter. A year later, my old boss called asking for me back with 5% raise. I obviously said no.
    via u/SpacedOutTrashPanda
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    Effective-Angle237 . 12h ago Even if its last second this is a huge family emergency and thats literally what managers are hired for. To manage situations and things, not people. Your manager should have immediately sympathized and worked hard to find a cover or cover it themselves.
    via u/Effective-Angle237
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    GagOnMacaque 6h ago • In many states, that's a sick day.
    via u/GagOnMacaque
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    TactualTransAm • 12h ago Just remember. You need A job, not THAT job. Start looking! I make 28 an hour and left early today because my kiddo got sick at school. Family comes first.
    via u/TactualTransAm

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