Hellobee Boards Topic: Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:45:41 +0000 maddyz on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids/page/2#post-2539536 Tue, 03 May 2016 08:46:11 +0000 maddyz 2539536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ In a way yes, I am the production manager at a small theater and DH does similar work. Before baby I we both worked lots of nights. That's just not something I can keep doing. I have found ways to not need to be around as much (giving more training to the ones who are working the shows) but sometimes I need to ask someone else to work late when I can't and make sure everything runs smoothly. There are so many ways we all help each other out and I am lucky to work in an environment that values a sustainable balanced life (something that is almost impossible in NYC and non-profit arts). My hours have always been flexible, but they are even more so now with LO. Sometimes I bring him into work with me. Not always the best for getting computer work done. But I can strap him on my back and run a load in just fine. He loves it. Mrs. Lemon-Lime on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids/page/2#post-2539438 Tue, 03 May 2016 06:57:51 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2539438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ This happens at my job. A couple- few times a year we have to work weekends. Those with children always opt out. It's been fine since those without kids or adult children don't mind going, but at this point it's just become a habit. Otherwise, I think those with kids and without kids enjoy the same perks of a flexible schedule. Managers know those with kids leave early to pick up their kids. Managers know those without kids leave early to beat traffic. Either way thede us so much work to do once everyone gets home. Amorini on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids/page/2#post-2539413 Tue, 03 May 2016 04:08:03 +0000 Amorini 2539413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Crystal: :heart: I hear you. There was a recent post about "friends without kids don't get it." Ouch! I'm sure it was all context but whoa. Just 18w now and I couldn't really read it. I'll forever be sensitive to the parent-less perspective. :heart: Crystal on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids/page/2#post-2539391 Mon, 02 May 2016 23:10:34 +0000 Crystal 2539391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Amorini: thank you for what you said. Some times, it isn't a choice not to have kids, it doesn't always come easily. And I have to say, dealing with infertility, it can really feel like adding salt to the wound when I have to cover for coworkers with kids just because I don't have them. My time isn't seen as as valuable. I completely understand that I'm more sensitive because of my circumstances right now, possibly unfairly so, but it is making sure that if I am blessed with a family someday that I will make sure to keep the work equitable for future coworkers without children. 2littlepumpkins on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids/page/2#post-2539363 Mon, 02 May 2016 21:52:59 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2539363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, before and after kids. At all jobs... We have helped each other out because it's the decent thing to do but that has nothing to do with parent status. When people have health problems or other family members to take care of or whatever that's a good reason too. Amorini on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids/page/2#post-2539358 Mon, 02 May 2016 21:46:41 +0000 Amorini 2539358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I would have to say yes to this. I was given work that others couldn't do because of their kid responsibilities. They had more leeway than I did. Just how it was across several offices I've worked at. On the hand, I also advanced faster and farther in my career because I could focus on it. Not saying that others with kids were less focused, it's just how things progressed for me among my peer group. I'm grateful for that time of being able to say "Yes!" to whatever came my way. (Well, saying no wasn't really an option!) After I figured out a few things in the world of work, I eventually took "meternity' type sabbaticals (of course I didn't call it that! totally ridiculous!) that led me to take extended travel, meeting DH and ultimately many more job offers... I say "meternity" type because I did observe from other women and men taking sabbaticals and leave and career breaks for family reasons (of varying sorts) that it wasn't going to wreck my career to step away from work, take care of my personal needs (like finding love!) and pursue other things for awhile. Work was always going to be there., This might be an unpopular sentiment but I think this "meternity vs. the moms" thing is a bit funny-sad. That writer really stepped in it with moms (total click bait!) but I also think there is an unseen, unheard side of our childless friends and coworkers that she reflects. Everyone just wants to be seen and feel supported despite our family-making choices (or lack thereof, for some). yellowbird on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids/page/2#post-2539267 Mon, 02 May 2016 19:38:34 +0000 yellowbird 2539267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope, we all have our own schedules and it doesn't affect anyone else if we have to leave early. We never have anything after hours that is mandatory so it really doesn't matter. katsupgirl on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids/page/2#post-2539263 Mon, 02 May 2016 19:31:50 +0000 katsupgirl 2539263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My previous employer was more family friendly and people with kids definitely didn't get put on overnights or weekends unless they asked to be. Everyone knew that having a kid was the best excuse to get out of stuff. Crystal on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids/page/2#post-2539231 Mon, 02 May 2016 18:50:09 +0000 Crystal 2539231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Absolutely, yes. i can't got into to much detail, but at the very least, kids are used as an excuse with a resounding frequency that is always accepted. Other excuses, however legitimate or valid, are not. Eko on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids/page/2#post-2539188 Mon, 02 May 2016 17:17:23 +0000 Eko 2539188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm saying overall yes. I work in law and in a team setting. During busy season there is a set amount of work that needs to get done by a set date. It's a collective effort to get it done. I agree some of it is perception. I go in early and most people stay late so maybe they think I don't work as many hours. Or, I try to be as productive as I can because I know I have to leave at a certain time, whereas I know other people do slack during the day. BUT, I know there are likely times where I can't do OT or stay late or last minute things come up someone else has to deal with. But it's not a daily occurrence. On other occasions people have personal things come up where I cover too. Mama Bird on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids/page/2#post-2539148 Mon, 02 May 2016 16:05:56 +0000 Mama Bird 2539148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not really, it's more a matter of who's been at the company longer. The more junior staff log more field hours and have weirder schedules. I can't do that even if I wanted to now, but others at my level don't do that much field work even if they have no kids, and I think our hours are similar... sometimes I just need to do my report writing on nights and weekends if there's a crunch. And before I had kids, I put in 200% - seven years of running around the city at all hours, long days and all that. I'll never forget accidentally volunteering for a late shift on my first Valentine's Day with DH! catlady on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids/page/2#post-2539112 Mon, 02 May 2016 15:30:04 +0000 catlady 2539112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No. I'm in a weird situation maybe because when I joined my company, it was still technically a startup, everyone was fairly young, and no one had kids. When people started having kids, many of us cut hours or shifted them, but everyone kept us the same amount of work because our group was still so small that it's not like anyone could shift any of our work to anyone else. These days, we have alot of younger people without kids working here, but they take their cue from the older folks who have been here longer. We all used to work longer hours in the beginning, but now most of us work shorter hours, including the people without kids, since they just follow the same schedule as the people who have been here longer. Corduroy on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids/page/2#post-2539104 Mon, 02 May 2016 15:22:43 +0000 Corduroy 2539104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Maybe I'm a bad employee but I think I have to say yes. My team is totally helping me out. I'm still pumping and travel sucks so my boss has not been sending me out as much as the rest of the team. My boss is doing the same for another new dad on the team. The rest of the team knows what's going on. I've been the younger, single employee before in the same situation. I never saw it as much of a burden, more as an opportunity to shine. hb3233 on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2539042 Mon, 02 May 2016 14:22:39 +0000 hb3233 2539042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I feel like I've seen men sometimes use having kids as an excuse to get out of stuff - and explicitly tell other men this is a great excuse - whereas women tend not to do so because then they would be even more likely to get "mommy-tracked." That said, the few issues I've had with people on my teams not pulling their weight have never been with parents. If people want to work less and think they can get away with it because someone will pick up the slack, they will do so and this seems pretty unrelated to their family situation. avivoca on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538977 Mon, 02 May 2016 13:28:53 +0000 avivoca 2538977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't see people really picking up my slack. Yes, there are times that I can't/won't work evening events because my husband is out of town and babysitting is ridiculous for the small amount of hours, but I try to make up for it by taking on more responsibilities at our daytime events and volunteering to stay late for the nights where I know my husband will be in town. ShootingStar on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538966 Mon, 02 May 2016 13:21:44 +0000 ShootingStar 2538966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't think I've run into this. In my line of work we don't really share a lot of work with other team mates. I have various projects/features that I work on by myself. And the work is distributed evenly on my team. So there's picking up the slack for someone else, or someone needing to pick up the slack for me since we all work on different things. Coffee-lover on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538912 Mon, 02 May 2016 12:45:08 +0000 Coffee-lover 2538912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I work at a hospital that is open 24/7. My coworkers always expect child free people to work every single holiday and constantly trade shifts with them to accommodate for them. We do self scheduling. The hospital policy is supposed to make it fair, as everyone is required to work every other weekend and we have a rotating holiday schedule. But there is even bias with the scheduling. People with kids get away with not scheduling themselves for enough weekends and holidays, but the people without kids get verbal warnings and their schedules changed unexpectedly for missing one weekend day. skipra on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538911 Mon, 02 May 2016 12:44:43 +0000 skipra 2538911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Only in situations where the parents were not working full-time. All the full-time workers would put in like 60+ hours a week at times and the part-timers were never asked to go over their set hours. Otherwise, sometimes parents would leave early but they always seemed to work in the evenings. My former boss had 2 young kids before I had any and she was a very hard worker, despite often getting in later and leaving earlier than many others in our group. She would work from home in the mornings and evenings. I don't know how she did it! travellingbee on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538892 Mon, 02 May 2016 12:28:49 +0000 travellingbee 2538892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not child free people per se but I have had extra responsibilities because of someone being out on maternity leave and someone else took on my work when I was gone (in addition to her own). Truth Bombs on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538886 Mon, 02 May 2016 12:25:35 +0000 Truth Bombs 2538886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm surprised at all the 'no' answers. I don't see non-parents picking up the slack as an ongoing 'business as usual' thing, but if there is a firedrill that requires unexpected late nights, the non-parents are definitely going to be more likely to handle that than those of us who need to get to day care pick up. autumnlove on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538882 Mon, 02 May 2016 12:23:18 +0000 autumnlove 2538882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I had a position that required a lot of travel with a team. Usually international travel for. 1-3 months at a time. Most of the guys with young kids always signed up but none of the moms ever did. (One guy left one trip a week early when his third child was due.) Maysprout on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538872 Mon, 02 May 2016 12:17:37 +0000 Maysprout 2538872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Age had more to do with it than kids. There were people with diff home lives and I've been at places where that was accommodated. But everyone knew how much work they were doing and while it was tolerated there was zero chance they were moving up the ladder and I know they were talked to once for passing off duties. At my husband's job the person who works way later than everyone else is bc he uses work time as social time and just chit chats the day away. Staying late doesn't mean effective. They all have set work that needs to be done and there's no getting around it. Some of the parents are better at just focusing on their stuff and getting out. My husband does more than his duties as much as he feels comfortable but his reviews reflect that too and hopefully will help in the long run. MrsKoala on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538854 Mon, 02 May 2016 12:03:50 +0000 MrsKoala 2538854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope. Meow on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538813 Mon, 02 May 2016 11:20:57 +0000 Meow 2538813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Anagram: yes this was exactly what I was thinking, this question on a parenting site. With the secondary of my two jobs, my boss made it clear that I should be able to do more since I don't have kids. I am a workaholic at my primary job, and he brought up the other employees, basically saying these guys also juggle two jobs and family,, and you don't even have kids so you should be able to do more at this job. I can't even articulate it but definitely felt like there was an element of sexism in there too. Like if I were a man with aggressive career goals (like I do at my primary job) I would get a pass at "slacking" at my second job but cause I am a woman who puts her career first and doesn't have children, he brought up the children comment. I felt so resentful at his presumptuous expectations - just cause I don't have kids yet doesn't mean my life is all easy breezy! That seemed to be his perception. Not to mention let's be honest the wives of these men are the ones doing the brunt of child rearing. I'm not even sure this is related to your question. I just still feel ragey about it half a year after the comments were made. pinkcupcake on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538811 Mon, 02 May 2016 11:19:25 +0000 pinkcupcake 2538811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, but you could CHOOSE to work more if you wanted to. It wasn't expected at all. MrsSCB on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538804 Mon, 02 May 2016 11:11:57 +0000 MrsSCB 2538804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Adira: Agree that a lot of it is about perception. I have one coworker who has an infant and asked if he could change his schedule to 7-4. Our department head approved it, but I'm not sure whether everyone in our department knows. I'm sure some people might think, "hey, why does he get to leave early?" If anyone actually asked me (I'm one of two dept. managers), I'd just tell them he has a different schedule but no one has. Mrs. Pickle on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538787 Mon, 02 May 2016 11:03:16 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2538787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DH has. He work in a manufacturing facility which runs 24/7. Before we had DD whenever something happened that required a manager to stay late it was always him or the one other person without kids. It annoyed me so much. His counterpart is single doesn't have any kids. DH tries to keep it fair when it comes to staying late and going in when something goes down. JenGirl on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538780 Mon, 02 May 2016 10:57:42 +0000 JenGirl 2538780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think it's a very different question to ask if people without kids HAVE to work more vs if they actually do work more. Honestly, I feel like a lot of jobs don't REQUIRE overtime, even when it's common. I know I, like many PPs, worked more pre-kids. I didn't mind the overtime too much and was making promotions. Now I have a kid and I don't like to work as much overtime. Did I HAVE to work the overtime pre-kids? No but most people do. And if you're never going to have kids, I can see that getting tiring. I also think it's more culturally acceptable to say you don't want to do overtime because you want a work/life balance when you have kids. Just look at all the people who responded to the article saying that consoling a friend isn't as important as spending time with your kid. So, yeah, I get it. But I think it's more a matter of everyone being okay with saying that home life is important whether you have kids or not. oliviaoblivia on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538755 Mon, 02 May 2016 10:36:48 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2538755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I had a coworker repeatedly try to pawn her work off on me at four o'clock when she had to do pickup. She wasn't on my team and would literally just dump stuff on my desk and say can you pick up these redlines or print whatever. It stopped when I just didn't do it one night and she got majorally screwed in a client meeting. I didn't deliberately not help her, but I had my own deadline and didn't have time to do her stuff. I didn't mind doing a bit to help her but it got really annoying when she never reciprocated. MoonMoon on "Have you ever worked a job where Child Free ppl "pick up the slack" for people with kids?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-worked-a-job-where-child-free-ppl-pick-up-the-slack-for-people-with-kids#post-2538720 Mon, 02 May 2016 10:14:11 +0000 MoonMoon 2538720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope. We both teach in college, so our jobs are inherently flexible, and there have been times when professors volunteered to take over someone's class for family emergencies (like the death or illness of a parent) but no one has ever had to pick up slack for anyone else because of parenthood.