A woman from Australia recently revealed the unfortunate circumstances surrounding her job loss while being pregnant.
She recounted an incident during a business meeting at a digital sales agency where, due to fatigue associated with early pregnancy, she involuntarily yawned. However, her employers misinterpreted this yawn as a sign of boredom with the job, leading to her immediate termination. The employers were unaware that her exhaustion was a result of the challenges of pregnancy.
The woman had been in the early stages of her pregnancy when the incident occurred. The yawn took place during a meeting with a client, who assumed she was disinterested in their collaboration. Consequently, the agency promptly handed her a termination letter, and the client left a scathing Google review.
The reaction of the company generated disbelief among many online users, with some characterizing it as an attempt to avoid dealing with an allegedly difficult and unforgiving client. Cherie, the CEO of The Digital Picnic, shared a similar experience on LinkedIn, recounting a situation in 2018 involving her studio manager, who was in the early stages of pregnancy.
Cherie described the challenges of early pregnancy, where one is struggling to stay awake at work despite the physical toll of creating another life. When the studio manager yawned during a client meeting, the client commented on her apparent tiredness, leading to the termination of the agency’s contract and a subsequently removed negative Google review.
Cherie expressed regret over the removal of the review, as it served as a reminder of what the agency would not tolerate in its client roster. The incident sheds light on the challenges faced by pregnant women in the workplace and the importance of understanding and accommodating their unique needs.
