CEO reprimands employee after his 5-year-old appeared in the background during a work call, employee resigns after pressure: 'I don't feel I can work here anymore'

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jan 20, 2026 4:00 PM EST

This boss clearly isn't a fan of meeting his employees' families. 

When you're meeting with a fully remote employee for a work call, it's not a shock when someone or something pops up in the background to disrupt the moment. It could be a package delivery. It could be the sudden appearance of a dog. Or it could be an employee's kid who came home from school and didn't know their parent was busy. Usually, when this happens, a normal coworker would have no problem with it. After all, life is full of minor interruptions. You either learn to live with them and keep moving forward, or you make a big deal out of them.

This author's CEO could not help but make a big deal out of a brief cameo appearance from a remote employee's kid, who showed up for just a minute. He demanded that the human resources department reach out to the employee after the call, expressing a desire for him to no longer work out of his home office. Instead, he now needed to come into a WeWork or another coworking space.

The author was displeased on multiple levels. First of all, that wasn't part of their employment agreement. The deal was that he got to work remotely and on his own terms. Furthermore, the fact that his CEO took issue with the reality and demands of children just goes to show that this is not a good guy to work for. If he can't be a human and recognize that kids occasionally walk into their parents' offices not knowing that their fathers are working, then he either has zero empathy or he's not living in reality. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement

  • We're on the employee's side and do not think he's overreacting at all to this bogus request. If anyone is overreacting, it's the CEO! These kinds of unfair demands only speak to the CEO's lack of maturity. Furthermore, the fact that HR was so willing to let him make this ridiculous demand also reflects a lack of integrity on their part to protect their employees. Unsurprising, of course, but still disappointing!

  • A remote worker wearing a headset sits on a video call with his young kid
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • "My five-year-old daughter appeared on camera for two seconds, and I got a call from HR. I'm leaving my job."

    I'm a senior employee working remotely in a relatively new position. I usually work all day, starting at 6:30 AM and finishing around 9 PM -- but I also do things like drop my kids off at school and such in the middle of the day.
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • I attend a weekly meeting at 8:30 PM with leadership. My wife was traveling last week, so I gave my five-year-old daughter a tablet and let her sit in the office while I was attending the 8:30 PM call. At
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • At 4:30 on Friday, I got a call from HR saying that the CEO didn't like that my daughter appeared in the video and now he's demanding that I work from a WeWork.
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • I politely refused and said I wouldn't go to a WeWork -- the company backed down, but now I don't feel like I can work here anymore. Am I being unreasonable, or would any other remote job be upset like this?
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • Edit: Just to clarify, I answered the question professionally and moved on. I'm not looking for advice on how to answer this type of question, but rather interested in whether this is a common practice.
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • A remote worker wearing a headset sits on a video call with his young kid
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Routine-Week2329 Insane...if they expect to have meetings after 5pm when children are home then they should expect to occasionally see children. Do they not have families?
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • SoxiTimeFun I'd put them on blast too. There's this crazy a work culture where everyone just has to prented they don't have kids or lives outside of salving away for the company all day watching their numbers grow
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • and there is nothing that me off more than this example does. We don't work for fun, we work to support our families.
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • And it's 830 at night? Like don't know how you're calm enough to even post this, if you got it in writing as the reason maybe talk to lawyer while you're at it.
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • DCWriterGirl01 This call was at 830 pm and they're worried a kid was on it for a minute? Gross. Start looking for something new. Or say you're not available after 5 anymore
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • Legion 1117 An 8:30 PM work meeting and they're upset your kid was int eh frame for three seconds????? Good choice on the looking for a new job thing. This company s ks...or at least the S administration does.
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • om11011shanti11011om The best bosses I ever had had one thing in common: They loved that I am a mother, and they always urged that I prioritize my daughter over the work, even if I was working for them. I think that's just something to keep in
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • mind, but in this current economic and employment climate, I won't tell you to quit. Above all, you need to feed her! But, keep an ear to the ground for better opportunities, maybe...
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • AccomplishedAd6542 Run. I have had times where my employees had whole toddlers on calls with us do to circumstances. We still got the work done and the kids are always so funny and excited
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • Latter-Willingness83 When that happens with us, my CEO waves and says hi. Understanding that your reports have family lives is a big part of effective leadership and teamwork.
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • KittyandPuppyMama Really weird that they expect you to telework at 8:30 at night to begin with, but also they they expect you NOT to be settled in comfortably in your home with your family at 8:30 also.
    via Wonderful_Author9452
  • A remote worker wearing a headset sits on a video call with his young kid
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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

Tags

zoom call employment issues remote work kids work ceo parenting human resources Horrible Bosses
Scroll Down For The Next Article