Employee with 4-year-old daughter is only parent on team, boss protests when he can't attend mandatory Saturday meetings because of childcare: 'That's a you problem'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Oct 5, 2026 1:45 PM EDT

Should employees always be penalized for prioritizing family responsibilities over work?

Jobs and kids are known to be a pretty incompatible mix, but that doesn't change the fact that most parents need to be able to work to afford their kids in the first place. Childcare is an issue that most moms and dads have to grapple with at some point, whether they have a job or not, but it is undeniably a more pressing issue when they are working. It isn't always going to be bring your kid to work day.

While most would argue that family has to take priority over a job, not all companies are going to see it that way. They want to make sure that they are getting the best deal possible on every employee they have, and that usually means that they have to make themselves available whenever their employer wants them.

When there is an appropriate babysitter in place, this isn't always so much of a problem. If working hours change, though, it's very possible that a parent may not be able to accommodate both that and their children at the same time. This is the endless issue for involved parents who also want to do well at their jobs. 

 

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  • Several employees sit around a meeting table with laptops while their boss presents.
    via Campaign Creators

    Several employees sit around a meeting table with laptops while their boss presents. Still frame for contextual reference only.
     

  • An operations analyst had long agreed with his wife that he would take over the care of their daughter on the weekends when she worked as a nurse. However, this became an issue when his boss insisted that they needed to start having Saturday morning meetings to cope with a backlog of work.

    He protested that he needed to be there for his daughter on the weekends, but his manager wasn't interested in hearing his excuses. It was getting to a point where it seemed like his need to care for his child could negatively impact his career.

  • My boss told me to “figure out childcare” because he scheduled mandatory Saturday meetings — but I'm the only parent on the team

    I work as an operations analyst at a logistics company. I have a 4-year-old daughter. My wife works weekends as a nurse, so Saturdays are my days with my kid. Everyone on my team knows this. My manager has known since my interview.
    via Careless-Knee6920
  • Three weeks ago, he announced that starting immediately, we'd have mandatory Saturday morning meetings "until further notice" to handle a backlog. I asked privately if there was any flexibility—maybe I could join remotely, or do a separate sync. His response: "That's a you problem. Figure out childcare. Everyone else manages."
    via Careless-Knee6920
  • Here's the thing - everyone else on my team is either single or childless. I'm the only parent. And when I pointed that out, he said, "I can't make exceptions based on personal choices." Personal choices. Like having a family is a hobby I picked up.
    via Careless-Knee6920

  • He was running out of alternative childcare options.

    I've been scrambling. My mom drove two hours last Saturday to watch my daughter. But she can't do it every week. My wife has already used all her PTO. I'm running out of options, and the meetings are still on the calendar.
    via Careless-Knee6920
  • Last week I emailed him again, copying HR this time, laying out the situation and asking for a reasonable accommodation. He replied to me - only, not HR "I'd advise you to think carefully about how you want to be perceived here. We promote people who are available."
    via Careless-Knee6920
  • That felt like a threat. I screenshotted it. I saved the email. I've started keeping a log. I don't want to quit. I've been here four years. I'm good at my job. But I also can't keep begging for the right to parent my own child on a day I'm not even scheduled to work.
    via Careless-Knee6920

  • He was looking for some support.

    Has anyone dealt with a boss who treats parenthood as a performance issue? Did HR help, or did it make things worse?
    via Careless-Knee6920
  • Close-up of a young girl outside.
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Close-up of a young girl outside. Not actual story subjects.
     

  • Maybe he needed to combine his responsibilities.

    sailboatfool Sounds like bring a child to work day
    via sailboatfool
  • No_Lavishness 1905 That would be so illegal in my country, but since you don't mention where you live, it must be the US.
    via No_Lavishness1905
  • Late_Memory_6998 Is Saturday childcare too expensive in your area? (What am I saying, it's expensive everywhere). My real question is can you afford the cost of half day childcare for one day?
    via Late_Memory_6998
  • This is definitely not fair but the person above is correct, management doesn't care. I used to have one that said, "So, life isn't fair" then proceeded to do something extremely unfair.
    via Late_Memory_6998

  • It was time to pay up.

    Helllo-Kittyy Id say either a baby sitter, or bring the kid to work. If its the latter | would be looking elsewhere for employment and not apologize for bringing the kid in if there is legit no other option. My guess is they want you gone, tho
    via Helllo-Kittyy
  • jennie-tailya If you truly want to keep working for this job and of a boss, it may not be a popular opinion, but the simple solution is to hire a babysitter.
    via jennie-tailya
  • TSIDATSI Hire a babysitter. You can do it. You are an operations analyst at a logistics company. I know you can find a babysitter. Life as you know it has not come to an end. You can look for other jobs if you want but meanwhile hire a babysitter.
    via TSIDATSI

  • Perhaps he needed a new job.

    GrOmH Ilscream1 Find a job at a competitor, get signed, then give two weeks notice at work
    via Gr0mHllscream1
  • Acceptable-Sense4601 Logistics analyst that can't figure out the logistics of having a kid.
    via Acceptable-Sense4601

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