World economic forum / wikimedia commons

Leaned In, Screwed Over

As a new mother, I put everything on the line for my job. I wish I hadn’t

Shortly before the end of my maternity leave, I called my boss to discuss my new schedule. We’d agreed that I would work from home two days per week—but which days, we hadn't decided.

“How about Mondays and Wednesdays?” I asked.

“I don’t think I want you doing that,” he replied.

“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to smooth the edge of alarm in my voice.

He’d changed his mind, he said flatly. He needed me to be in the office full-time. Every day.

I was stunned: We’d agreed that I could telecommute months ago, with no hesitation on his part. I was a good, productive employee. Other people in our organization worked remotely, and those of us who didn’t might as well have—we spent most days hunkered alone in our offices. We rarely even held staff meetings.

This must be a misunderstanding, I thought. I could fix it if we talked face to face. I bundled up the baby and took him into work.

It was not a misunderstanding.

“I don't want you doing that. You need to be here.” He lowered his voice. “You could become a senior editor.”