ChatGPT said: My Boss Approved My Maternity Leave — But I Realized It Was a Trap At first, it felt like a win. After weeks of anxiety and careful timing, I finally sat down with my boss and asked for maternity leave. I had braced myself for resistance, but to my surprise, he approved it almost instantly. He even smiled and said, “Of course—take the time you need.” I walked out of that meeting feeling lighter, relieved that my workplace seemed supportive of this new chapter in my life.
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But the feeling didn’t last.
The signs were subtle at first. Important meetings were suddenly scheduled without me, even though I hadn’t started leave yet. Projects I had been leading were reassigned “just in case.” My name began disappearing from email threads where it once held weight. When I tried to raise questions or offer input, I was told to “focus on the baby” or “take it easy now.” At first, I gave them the benefit of the doubt—it made sense to plan ahead. But something about it didn’t feel right.
Then came the HR emails. One message politely “reminded” me that my leave would be unpaid, despite my contract’s clear language about paid time off. Another informed me that I’d need to reapply for my position after returning—something no one had ever mentioned before. When I pushed back, I was told these were “just policy updates” that had nothing to do with me. But the pattern was clear: I was being phased out before I had even left.
The final straw came when I overheard a conversation in the breakroom. A colleague casually mentioned that management was already discussing replacements for me—not temporary coverage, but full-time hires. My stomach dropped. The approval I’d received wasn’t an act of support; it was a strategic move to make it easier to cut ties once I was gone.
I realized then that my boss hadn’t approved my leave out of kindness or compliance. He had approved it as a quiet exit strategy—his way of removing a pregnant woman from the equation without making it obvious.
It’s a harsh reality many women face in the workplace: being celebrated for starting a family, only to be sidelined, undermined, or erased for it. I’m still fighting for my position, and my dignity. But now I know—support isn’t just what they say in meetings. It’s what they do when they think you’re not looking.
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