‘If you lack a
child
, invent one for
work
.’
This was the ‘ultimate
workplace hack
suggested by podcast host Meshel Laurie on the Can We Be Real
podcast
.
Meshel, who has 15-year-old twins, shared this insight: “I knew someone whose pretend kid was named Jamie. The actual Jamie though? He was a Yorkshire terrier.”
‘We collaborated closely, and she often mentioned, “Oh gosh, that day at school, Jamie was in the infirmary, and I had to head over.” It took quite some time before she opened up completely… I have never chuckled so much in my entire life.’
A snippet of her remarks, uploaded to
TikTok
Since then, it has reached over 1.2 million views, with numerous people calling it a ‘genius’ concept.
Child-free commentators swiftly chimed in with their frustration about how often their coworkers depart early because of matters concerning their children.
‘I’m fed up with my coworkers constantly using their kids as an excuse to leave early,’ commented Kirsten. Griff added, ‘We’re left covering their responsibilities because of these personal decisions. It’s not exactly equitable.’
However, parents responded sharply. A witty commentator noted, ‘These bothersome children, always requiring attention from their parents.’ Another chimed in, ‘You’ll discover that many prefer being at work than staying home with ill children. They see it as no holiday.'”
It’s not the fool’s gold you believe it to be…
Even though we may be quietly giggling, this isn’t actually the ‘trick’ it initially seems to be.
Ruth Cornish, an HR specialist, states
newsinpo.site
Faking that you have kids likely won’t help you out too much.
‘Simply having a child does not grant you permission to depart from your workplace at whatever time suits you. If circumstances require you to end your workday earlier than planned or necessitate irregular leaves, these would generally be without pay,’ she clarifies.
Nevertheless, if your child unexpectedly falls ill, this situation typically qualifies as emergency leave. Most employers in Canada continue to compensate their employees for such time off.
Ruth, who established an HR consulting firm
Amelore
,
cautions that if you choose to create a fictional child, you might risk being reported by disgruntled coworkers, with potentially severe consequences.
‘If anyone was discovered, they would undergo a process and investigation. It’s highly probable that they would be deemed to have engaged in serious misconduct,’ she explains.
This would place you in the same group as staff members who have engaged in theft, physical abuse, severe neglect, or significant insubordination.
You would probably get fired right away, a lawsuit might be filed against you, and this will surely impact your recommendations for upcoming positions as well.
A disservice to parents…
Despite not getting caught, assuming that parents have access to limitless time off work to care for their children is misguided.
Working Families
CEO Jane van Zyl states that it is absurd.
‘Time off to manage
childcare
“Certainly, this isn’t just a break; it’s essential, and something that parents approach with great seriousness,” she explains.
newsinpo.site
.
‘Instead of using childcare as a reason to end work early, our helpline receives reports indicating that parents cannot take time off, face negative treatment, or are sometimes dismissed from their jobs—even when dealing with emergencies or unexpected care requirements for their children.’
Jane mentions that should this occur
is
Granted, this is typically without pay. ‘Most families find it unaffordable and it can quickly push them into financial hardship,’ she states.
Certainly, you might observe parents requesting additional resources.
flexible work schedules
, which annoyed some employees without children, who stated that their needs ‘were always considered last,’ Jane argues that this flexibility is essential for parents. She explains that it helps them deal with both substantial childcare expenses and the shortage of available child care options, she states.
What additional falsehoods do staff members perpetuate?
According to Ruth, the most common falsehood is claiming that sick or deceased relatives necessitate compassion leave. “People have told me they needed time off because their relatives continue to pass away,” Ruth explains.
‘I’ve encountered several individuals who claimed to be undergoing cancer treatments, but once they were exposed as frauds, they were immediately let go. It distresses me knowing that real patients are struggling with this condition.’
However, some commenters supported using these justifications, stating: ‘Begin each new job with all four grandparents still alive.’
@MandaMilo mentioned, “I watched a video where someone claimed that each time he starts a new job, his grandparents come back to life.”
Some cautioned that firms might request obituaries to validate requests for compassionate leave; therefore, consider carefully before raising false alarms.
A TikToker named Paige Lawrence mentioned: “In our business, we had an individual pretend to be pregnant twice. Once exposed, this led to a full legal case, along with charges and fines.”
Moral of the story…
Although it might seem easy to fabricate some stories to let yourself slip away from work for an occasional meeting or a bit of personal time—think twice about doing so.
This might destroy your whole career and result in financial penalties or legal consequences.
Have you got a tale to tell?
Reach out via email
newsinpo.siteLifestyleTeam@newsinpo.site.co.uk
.
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