Okay, I’ll say it. Sometimes, pregnant women can be no fun to be around. I understand, mind you, why — their back hurts, their feet hurt, they feel nauseous, etc. They definitely have a right to be cranky/tired/short-tempered/etc. and we guys smile and take it because that’s our job — to be supportive and caring and positive to help you get through a difficult nine months. But what about the workplace? Should co-workers and bosses have to put up with a pregnant woman’s negative energy? What about her fetus’ negative energy?



That’s right — those unborn children can be such a downer! Heck, sometimes they’re even outright hostile! And in the workplace, well, that just won’t do. Take, for example, the case of poor, beleaguered John Smith, CEO of Hearthstone Homes of Omaha Nebraska. His executive assistant, Jammie Harms got pregnant. So far, so good. But then the wee boy inside her started putting out negative energy toward her boss.

Not only that but, according to a chiropractor and “self-described energy worker”, the baby was “was bringing up very negative energy relating to his own experience” in the womb. So what was Smith to do? What else could he do? He fired Harms (and, presumably, her baby, although I doubt the kid was actually on the payroll.) Basically, she was sacked because of her baby’s bad vibes. Now Harms is suing for religious, gender and pregnancy discrimination.

In reality, unless your job is flying into space to blow up an asteroid that’s about to destroy all life on earth, your pregnancy is far more important than whatever work you do. Not only to you, but to your company as well because, after all, you’re creating the next generation of customers. More importantly, treating pregnant workers (and their kids) well is the right thing to do because, well, it’s the right thing to do.

If you want to consult psychics and soothsayers about how to run your business, that’s your problem. Some people read the financial news which is, I suspect, equally reliable. But when it comes to workplace behaviour, hiring practices, and general social interaction, leave that stuff at home. I think Mr. Smith made a difficult time much worse for Mrs. Harms and she — and her son — should be compensated for that.

Tags: discrimination, lawsuits, new age, pregnancy, religion, working, workplace