BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids picking up the slack

Yesterday at work, I was asked to stay late to help out with a project. I already had a prior meeting arranged. My supervisor commented, well we could ask one of the coworkers to stay, but she is with her kid. Of course, I did not say anything, but I thought "Why am I the one asked to stay late? The coworkers with children are never asked to stay later." I don't mind helping out, but it seems the coworkers without kids are asked to stay late. I don't think I should have to stay later at work because I don't have kids. I have other things to take care of outside of work, as well. It seems people without kids are perceived as having all of this extra time. My time is valuable too.

I know this feeling heavily.. We need to start a union...or maybe just one big class action lawsuit, so that non parents get fair treatment.

Yep, this has happened to me too. I understand that parents have daycare, etc. to deal with...but my time should be just as valuable. Besides, I have a dog I have to get home to! My time outside of work is for me and my family, whether or not it includes a human child.

Your workplaces probably consider asking childless employees to pick up the slack to be a part of their "family friendly" policies since, it seems one must have a child to be considered a family.
Companies get kudos for this. To me, and yes, I've been a victim of this type of thinking, it's discrimination. My DH and I ARE a family, even though we do not have kids. It's not going to change until childless families start standing up for their rights.

At my current job, when a parent has a "sick kid" issue, everyone is asked to pick up the slack, even other parents. Whoever can, does.

A couple of weeks ago, my schedule was completely switched around because I was the person most available to help M skip work to watch her grandkids while her daughter had a bunch of medical tests done. I was happy to help, mostly because she was very vocally grateful and took a weekend shift off my hands as a "thank you." She didn't take for granted that her family situation made me or anyone else obligated to help.

The biggest problem we have with scheduling around a caregiver's schedule is that one member of our small staff cares for her mother, who is around 80 years old and hates having anyone but her daughter sit with her in the evenings. We're constantly working around the issue. In that respect, we're all caring for C's mother.

But I've been in jobs where parents (mostly mothers) have automatic "get out of work free" cards. No one but the childless staffers ever had to put in extra hours. It quite simply sucked.

I don't mind covering for other members of staff if they need to leave the office for whatever "kid" reason - but it works both ways. If I have a dentist or doctor appointment, then there's nothing wrong with them returning the favour. It's all about being part of a team.

When CF employees have to do the lion's share of covering because they're CF, though - then that's discrimination. Like you, I also object to people assuming just because we're CF we have no life outside work! I also object to parents who use their kids as an excuse to skive off whenever the opportunity arises. People are at work to do a job, and if they are unable or unwilling to do that job then they have no right to be there.