'My Time Is Important, Too!': Child-Free Worker Called 'Lazy' for Saying 'No' to Coworker Who Always Asks Her to Cover Shifts Because of Her Kids

Workplace dynamics often present challenges, especially when reconciling teamwork with personal boundaries. A recent post on the "Am I the A**hole" (AITA) subreddit showcases a user's predicament involving a co-worker who persistently requested them to cover shifts.

The original poster (OP), CraveHalo, a 28-year-old woman, described how her colleague, Sarah, 32, habitually foisted shifts onto others at the last minute, frequently citing non-urgent excuses. Although the OP initially complied in a spirit of helpfulness, she soon detected a troubling pattern: her coworker was taking advantage of her willingness to assist.

A Pattern Of Exploitation: When Helping Goes Too Far

To exacerbate the situation, this coworker failed to reciprocate when the OP required shift coverage, often resorting to excuses. The tipping point arrived when CraveHalo, weary from assuming additional shifts and feeling unsupported, refused to cover yet another shift.

Sarah reacted negatively, stating, "Must be nice to have all that free time. You don't have kids, so it's not like you're busy with anything important."

Taken aback, CraveHalo replied: "Just because I don't have kids doesn't mean I don't have a life. My time is important, too." The OP added, "She kind of rolled her eyes and walked away, but I could tell she wasn't happy with me."

Sarah escalated the situation by involving other coworkers who also aligned against CraveHalo. The workplace abruptly transformed into a hostile environment, with coworkers making CraveHalo feel culpable for not intervening.

The Importance Of Workplace Boundaries

Feeling frustrated, the OP turned to the Reddit community for advice, questioning whether she was truly at fault for declining to cover shifts. "I honestly don't think it's fair to expect me to cover her shifts all the time just because I don't have children. I have responsibilities, too, and I deserve to have a life outside of work," she wrote.

"But some of my coworkers seem to think I should be helping out more because Sarah's a mom and I'm not. Am I being selfish here? AITA for finally standing my ground and refusing to cover her shifts after she basically called me lazy?" the OP wrote in her Reddit post titled "AITA for refusing to cover my coworker's shifts after she called me lazy for not having kids?"

Nevertheless, most commenters supported her, asserting that establishing boundaries is indispensable in any workplace.

One user wrote, "You've been more than generous in helping Sarah in the past, and it's not okay for her to expect you to keep covering for her. Having kids doesn't entitle her to demand more of your time." Another added, "NTA. Stop helping any disrespectful b*tches who think they're entitled to your time because you're worthless without kids."

Another user wrote: "I would also take note of the other coworkers who jumped on the "if you don't have kids you're lazy" bandwagon. I wouldn't cover for them either. And if they ask, let them know you can't, you're too busy with a full day of napping, pampering yourself, and doing whatever the hell else you decide to do."

The thread underscored the significance of clear communication and self-advocacy in professional settings. Failing to set boundaries can have unintended consequences, as exemplified by the case of an employee whose unexpected act of kindness toward her boss, Wanda, inadvertently led to a clingy and obsessive relationship.

Years later, the employee grapples with establishing boundaries with her boss, fearing for her job security. Maintaining a harmonious blend of teamwork and self-care is crucial in any workplace. As many commenters advised, it's okay to say no, particularly when others are not demonstrating the same degree of consideration.

The Rise of Single-Mother Households

While self-advocacy is crucial in the workplace, there are broader societal challenges that some, such as single mothers, confront in reconciling professional and personal responsibilities—particularly when financial constraints come into play.

Over the past five decades, family structures in the United States have undergone a radical overhaul. In 1970, 67 percent of adults aged 25 to 49 cohabited with a spouse and at least one nonadult child, whereas in 2021, only 37 percent did, according to a report by PEW Research Centre. A less pronounced but noteworthy shift is the rise in families led by single parents—the vast majority of whom are single mothers.

Single mothers contend with the dual responsibilities of being their families' primary breadwinners and caregivers. Moreover, the increase in dual-income families, where both parents work, places single-mother families at a relative disadvantage regarding family earnings.

While some single mothers receive financial support from child support or qualify for diverse forms of public assistance, the prevailing levels of economic insecurity necessitate additional policy action. New data from Oxfam underscores the crisis of low wages in the United States, revealing that over 39 million workers—approximately one in four—earn insufficient wages.

In July, Oxfam, a global organisation dedicated to combating inequality and eradicating poverty and injustice, published new research on the low-wage workforce in the United States. The study discovered that 23 percent of U.S. workers currently earn low wages (less than $17 per hour), and the data further unveiled pronounced disparities along racial and gender lines.

In conclusion, single mothers' challenges in balancing professional and personal responsibilities are multifaceted, exacerbated by societal structures and economic disparities. While advocating for oneself in the workplace is essential, broader policy actions are necessary to address the systemic issues that contribute to the financial insecurity of single-mother families.