When I shared the news of my pregnancy with my boss, his smile and congratulations felt like a breath of fresh air.
He assured me I could take maternity leave whenever I needed, and for a moment, I believed I was truly supported. But that reassurance soon unraveled into something much darker — a hidden trap that left me financially crippled and emotionally shaken, forcing me to question what fairness at work really means.
The Letter I Never Expected to Write
Dear Reader,
When I announced my pregnancy, my boss’s words were warm and promising: “Congratulations! Take leave whenever you need.” Relieved, I officially requested 12 weeks of paid maternity leave. His written approval made me feel secure, ready to focus on welcoming my baby.
But about a month in, I opened my payslip—and my heart dropped. No salary. Zero. No notice, no explanation.
Confused, I called my boss. His reply? Calm and cold: “I told HR you chose unpaid leave. It helps balance our budget.”
We had never discussed unpaid leave. I wasn’t even consulted.
When I challenged him, he shrugged it off: “You’re not working, so why pay you? We have to support the team covering your work.”
Then I discovered the truth: my salary was quietly parceled out as temporary bonuses to colleagues—“to boost morale,” they said.
What should have been a joyful time with my newborn spiraled into stressful calls, endless emails to HR, and weighing legal options. I exhausted my savings just to keep afloat.
Returning to work, my boss greeted me with a cheerful “Welcome back! We missed you,” as if nothing had happened.
Now, I’m left feeling betrayed and powerless. Was it naïve to expect honesty and fairness? Should I speak up and fight, or move on and heal?
What began as a hopeful celebration quickly morphed into a painful lesson about how easily promises can be broken behind closed doors. Formal approvals meant little when decisions were made without consent, prioritizing budgets and temporary team morale over a new mother’s rights and well-being. This experience shines a harsh light on the gap between words and actions in workplace support.
True fairness isn’t just about kind phrases—it demands transparency, respect, and honoring commitments. For anyone facing this betrayal, the path forward is difficult: confront the injustice or rebuild with the hard-earned wisdom this experience has given.