My husband and I had a baby one week ago. His company policy provides him a 2-week paid paternity leave.
A week before that, my husband was given a new project at work. He was made a Team Lead of an important Task Force and was told he could only take 1 week of leave. He was upset about this and expressed concerned to his manager, but they said they really needed him for this "high visibility" project and could not spare him for 2 weeks. He was told he could take days here and there to make up the 2nd week at other times when there weren't deadlines or meetings (ie. to take me or baby to doctor, etc.)
When I went into labor last week, he called and left a voicemail for his manager that I was in labor and he would update him later as to the status. He told his manager he had an extremely important morning meeting that he could not attend and asked the manager to alert everyone to his situation. Apparently the manager did not do so until hours after the meeting. During the meeting, a higher-level manager was livid because my husband was not there and neither were his two managers!!
That afternoon, my husband again left a voicemail for his manager stating that I was still in labor and not to expect to see him. After I delievered that evening, my husband immediately called his manager's home cell phone and told him we'd finally delievered. His manager said congratulations and then asked if he'd be in tomorrow. My husband said "Uhh... no. I won't be back until next week." The manager acted upset over this and then asked him to schedule meetings for everyone!!!!
My husband worked from his laptop at home all week between midnight feedings so that his management would be happy. He spent hours putting together processes, etc. and sent emails at all hours.
He went back to work today and was told that since he missed 2 meetings, he was taken off of the Team Lead position and demoted to "scribe." He told his manager that he was very upset and embarassed by this, and was told it was decided yesterday and nothing could be done about it now. My husband also informed his manager that we had incurred daycare costs now because he had to "rush" back to work and our 3-year-old had to be watched. His manager then offered to let him go home. My husband decided to stay and work but informed his manager that he would be taking the rest of his paternity leave (probably next week.)
I am very upset over this. We had a baby!!!! Is it okay that his employer did this to him, when their policy clearly states that he can take 2 weeks off for leave??? And he went ABOVE AND BEYOND by working from home and agreeing to only take 1 week!
Should I alert his human resources department? He is afraid of retaliation and doesn't want to stir the pot in these economic times... but I am very concerned that he was discriminated against for taking time to help me and bond with his new child. This project was a very important step for his career and could have had a wonderful outcome for him and now it has been yanked away because he took 5 business days off for the birth of a child!
Is there any action we can take?
Thank you.
A week before that, my husband was given a new project at work. He was made a Team Lead of an important Task Force and was told he could only take 1 week of leave. He was upset about this and expressed concerned to his manager, but they said they really needed him for this "high visibility" project and could not spare him for 2 weeks. He was told he could take days here and there to make up the 2nd week at other times when there weren't deadlines or meetings (ie. to take me or baby to doctor, etc.)
When I went into labor last week, he called and left a voicemail for his manager that I was in labor and he would update him later as to the status. He told his manager he had an extremely important morning meeting that he could not attend and asked the manager to alert everyone to his situation. Apparently the manager did not do so until hours after the meeting. During the meeting, a higher-level manager was livid because my husband was not there and neither were his two managers!!
That afternoon, my husband again left a voicemail for his manager stating that I was still in labor and not to expect to see him. After I delievered that evening, my husband immediately called his manager's home cell phone and told him we'd finally delievered. His manager said congratulations and then asked if he'd be in tomorrow. My husband said "Uhh... no. I won't be back until next week." The manager acted upset over this and then asked him to schedule meetings for everyone!!!!
My husband worked from his laptop at home all week between midnight feedings so that his management would be happy. He spent hours putting together processes, etc. and sent emails at all hours.
He went back to work today and was told that since he missed 2 meetings, he was taken off of the Team Lead position and demoted to "scribe." He told his manager that he was very upset and embarassed by this, and was told it was decided yesterday and nothing could be done about it now. My husband also informed his manager that we had incurred daycare costs now because he had to "rush" back to work and our 3-year-old had to be watched. His manager then offered to let him go home. My husband decided to stay and work but informed his manager that he would be taking the rest of his paternity leave (probably next week.)
I am very upset over this. We had a baby!!!! Is it okay that his employer did this to him, when their policy clearly states that he can take 2 weeks off for leave??? And he went ABOVE AND BEYOND by working from home and agreeing to only take 1 week!
Should I alert his human resources department? He is afraid of retaliation and doesn't want to stir the pot in these economic times... but I am very concerned that he was discriminated against for taking time to help me and bond with his new child. This project was a very important step for his career and could have had a wonderful outcome for him and now it has been yanked away because he took 5 business days off for the birth of a child!
Is there any action we can take?
Thank you.
