Entitled expectant mother demands coworker give up her desk so she can have it despite coworker reserving it: 'You're young, find another'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jul 26, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

You probably have somewhat of a special attachment to your desk. If you have an assigned one, you've probably made peace with it. You notice that it's the closest one to the bathroom, so that's nice. You like how your seat is always at the right height and there's an outlet nearby. You have your routine of where you put your bag, where you put your coffee, and where you put your photo of your dog to make it feel like home. You like the window that it sits under, and you get along with your desk neighbors. Once you get used to a certain desk, it can be hard to let it go. 

This is why it's understandable that you would want to defend it with your life, even against someone who says they might need it. Because if they needed it that badly, they would go about it in ethical ways.

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  • 01

    My coworker demanded I give her my reserved workstation because she's pregnant

    I work in a hybrid setup, and we're supposed to reserve desks in advance if we come in. I'm early so I always book the same spot, it's quiet, has a good chair, and near an outlet.
    via u/PaySenior7257
  • 02
    Top 5 busin
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • That's what happened in this story, where one worker reserved their regular desk like usual, but was in for a surprise when someone else came along and tried to take it from them. They weren't going to let them off that easily, though. Read on to see what happened. 

  • 03
    One day, I walk in and find my coworker (we'll call her Tina) already sitting there. I told her, "Hey, I reserved this spot." She waves her hand and says, "I'm pregnant. I need this one. You're young, find another." Mind you, there were plenty of empty desks still available. She just liked this one.
    via u/PaySenior7257
  • 04
    I went to the office manager and asked if I could switch. She checked the schedule and said I was the one with the reservation. Tina gets called out, and she explodes, starts yelling about how I'm being inconsiderate of "a pregnant woman's needs." Manager didn't budge. I got my desk back, but now Tina glares at me like I kicked her baby. I respect expecting moms, but entitlement is entitlement.
    via u/PaySenior7257
  • 05

    Commenters agreed that this could have gone down differently.

    Different Guess_54... . 1h ago Your colleague is just selfish / entitled - using the pregnancy excuse to get what she wants.
    via u/Different_Guess_5407
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    mbers are Top 5 business challenges wwwwww
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 07
    Mila_Cornelia • 49m ago She didn't want a desk, she wanted control.
    via u/Mila_Cornelia
  • 08
    Derpshiz 36m ago • After the pregnancy she would have said it's my spot since I've been sitting there. If she had a dr note saying she needs to limit steps then that's fine. But what she did was definitely entitlement.
    via u/Derpshiz
  • 09
    Lucia_Prisca • 31m ago Yeah, it really comes across that way. Using pregnancy as a shield to justify entitlement isn't fair to anyone, especially when there were plenty of other desks available. It's important to respect genuine needs, but not at the cost of basic fairness and respect for the rules. Have you seen similar situations like this before?
    via u/Lucia_Prisca
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    Adventurous-Dot-8... 1h ago Unless you knocked her up, her pregnancy has nothing to do with you.
    via u/Adventurous-Dot-8272
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    Pristine-Mastodon-37 1h ago What about THAT spot is meeting her needs more than any other one??? NTA
    via u/Pristine-Mastodon-37
  • 12
    BlackberryCurrent310 · 1h ago If she wanted that spot she should have reserved it herself, or asked if you would mind switching. She shouldn't just assume she should have it because she's pregnant. She is probably the same person who doesn't pick her airline seat in advance and expects people to move so she isn't stuck with a middle seat.
    via u/BlackberryCurrent310
  • 13
    DubiousPeople Pleaser · 1h ago If she has a pregnancy specific need, then she has to get that approved. We do this all the time at work. Someone informs the boss they're pregnant. Boss asks if there is anything you need. For bigger things we need a medical note.
    via u/DubiousPeoplePleaser
  • 14
    mulliganwtf • 48m ago . Can you imagine what an entitled little brat she's gonna raise?
    via u/mulliganwtf
  • 15
    Valeria_Isla • 59m ago The audacity! She looked at a clearly marked reservation and thought, 'I am above this.That's not maternal instinct, that's straight-up main character syndrome.
    via u/Valeria_Isla
  • 16
    Economy-Outcom... • 41m ago As my husband would say "she fell on a wennie" and unless you pushed her on it this it is not your fault and she is not entitled to anything because this happened. Things can be a little more difficult at times but trust me not enough to have to give up
    via u/Economy-Outcome-8346
  • 17
    a spot or have to make changes in your life. Lots of women still take care of their business and make no excuses. I felt like the only the last few weeks of my pregnancy were difficult only because I had to pee a lot and roll out of bed but other than that it was fine. Be strong and don't give in to anything because then after the baby born it will be about that. It will never end.
    via u/Economy-Outcome-8346
  • 18
    Lefa777.34m ago What about the desk relates to pregnancy accommodation? I am a corporate working female with three children. A normal pregnancy, outside of specific complications, is not as limiting as some believe. Especially in an office
    via u/Lefa777
  • 19
    environment. I fully support making accommodations but they do have to request them with their supervisor, not other co-workers. Otherwise, they are stating that everyone should bow to them and everything they want because they are pregnant. Not fair in any way and doesn't meet the reasonable accommodation standards in most states.
    via u/Lefa777
  • 20
    AvocadoJazzlike3... 22m ago Just because she's pregnant doesn't give her the right to railroad everyone. And yes I'm a woman and have pregnant twice.
    via u/AvocadoJazzlike3670
  • 21
    Sammakko660·28m ago It never ceases to amaze me how many pregnant women use their pregnancy as a get of jail free card to excuse their selfishness, entitlement or any other bad behaviors. If Tina wants that spot she can reserve it just like anyone else.
    via u/Sammakko660
  • 22
    indi50 23m ago Kudos to your manager. Usually the story is the entitled person gets their way by being obnoxious. I'm glad she was made to follow the rules.
    via u/indi50
  • 23
    JipC1963 47m ago . NO, just NO! Being pregnant is not a catchall for privilege or privileges, but don't be surprised if she reserves "THE" desk space well in advance or at the moment it opens up on the schedule. She will make it her number one priority from now on! You
    via u/JipC1963
  • 24
    may want to have a conversation with your boss about equally sharing the space or you'll be at war for the next nine months or more. Greatest of luck! Musical workstations would drive me crazy!
    via u/JipC1963
  • 25
    Kmarad • 24m ago For me it's always the same thing the manners. : I'd accept if asked politely to switch desks for a good reason (which I think pregnancy is). But being waved a " I'm pregnant" won't ever work.
    via u/Kmarad__
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    Ingrown ToenailsH... . 49m ago Is there a word for these entitled pregnant women like they call Bridezillas? Pregzilla?
    via u/IngrownToenailsHurt
  • 27
    activelurker777 15m ago I don't know how far in advance you can book, but do so ASAP, if you can. Then set up a daily task to book the next available slot. We have the same system in our office.
    via u/activelurker777
  • 28
    Own Ad5969 · 13m ago It sounds like your employer needs to provide comfortable chairs for ALL workstations. Yeah, she's likely a lot more uncomfortable than you. But everyone is entitled to a comfortable workspace. Not only pregnant women, and not only "first come, first served" people.
    via u/Own_Ad5969

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job desk bosses work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss workplace pregnant reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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