Unfortunately, pregnancy loss is surprisingly common. While around 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, some of them go entirely unnoticed, making the actual number likely much higher. At the same time, many people still lack even a remote understanding of what physical and emotional impact it has on a person.
So just imagine your employer adding to the pain by firing you a few days after. That is exactly what happened to Reddit user meltedvelvet, who recently shared her unsettling story with fellow members of the Anti Work community. After having a miscarriage at work, she took a few days off to recover. However, this didn’t go well with her supervisors.
The woman tried to explain the situation, but the management hardly listened. “I don’t actually feel like this is reality at all,” she wrote. Well, if there’s one thing we know about unreasonable managers, they tend to make employees’ lives extremely challenging. Read on to find out how it all unfolded and share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Recently, this woman shared an honest story about how she suffered a miscarriage at work
Image credits: Luis Galvez (not an actual photo)
Instead of giving support, the management showed a serious lack of compassion and fired her just days after
Image credits: Martha Dominguez de Gouveia (not an actual photo)
Image credits: Caique Morais (not an actual photo)
The Redditor’s post received a lot of attention on the Anti Work subreddit. It got over 35K upvotes and 2K comments where other members of the community offered support and gave the student plenty of advice on how to seek justice in this situation.
Sadly, experiencing the loss of a baby is still not understood well enough in our society. That’s why so many grieving parents feel like they have to live through their pain in silence. Needless to say, this can lead to alarming consequences and may contribute to additional health problems.
The creator of this post mentioned in the comments that she has a difficult time dealing with all the emotions. “I am not doing good at all mentally, I know my hormones are out of whack,” meltedvelvet wrote and added that staying grounded with school and having family reach out makes it better.
Later on, meltedvelvet’s coworker revealed the author was the second person laid off for the same reason. “She said another girl was fired after she had a miscarriage about a year ago, except hers was very public as she was in excruciating pain,” the user mentioned in the comments.
When management is hardly affected or concerned by their employee’s suffering, it’s a big glaring red flag. According to NPR, however, there are no national laws that mandate sick leave for workers, let alone specific protections for people having a miscarriage.
Later on, the user provided more information about the incident in the comments
Dr. Wael Salem, a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist, told NPR that pregnancy loss is not a one-and-done thing at all. “It drags on physically, mentally and emotionally.”
The physical needs and experiences of someone who deals with miscarriage can differ considerably. Early symptoms might resemble a heavy menstrual period with cramping and some pain. When miscarriage occurs later in the pregnancy, there’s a bigger chance of significant bleeding, “to the point where it leads to anemia in some cases,” Salem said. Moreover, he added that some people have such heavy contractions, they need pain management.
When it comes to the emotional aspect of pregnancy loss, it can be a very traumatic experience, Maria Brann, a professor of communications studies at Indiana University who studied miscarriage for a decade, noted. You see, a person can feel truly attached to their baby, even in such a short period of time. They might start dreaming and planning their whole future and end up blaming themselves for their loss.
In the aftermath of such trauma, “it’s very difficult to focus,” Brann explained. “An individual is probably not going to be as productive.”
“It is really important that we encourage women to take care of themselves,” Brann added. Otherwise, they won’t process their loss, and it can “cause even greater mental anguish later on.”
Here’s how people reacted to the story
Verizon too. Literally had my blood pressure bottom out to the point I passed out and was unresponsive(internal bleeding from a rupture). They carted me out to the lobby and placed a blanket on me so I looked like a guest that nodded of in the lobby til my emergency contact I was taken to the ER by my father and released after imaging determined that I was no longer bleeding and the IV raised my blood pressure to normal. Went to doctor the next day for documentation. He only would auth two days off as there was no medical reason after my meds got adjusted. My work denied the claim as I did not miss the mandatory minimum of 7 days for fmla to kick in and fired me after the holidays. Ironically I won several customer service awards during that time and no one saw it coming
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That poor woman. I feel disgusted that she had to go through this.Walmart should be ashamed for firing her.
Yeah, where's the empathy? The HR nitwit and boss didn't say a thing about being sorry and that pisses me off.
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OMG she will sue, and they will be begging to settle for a very fat amount. it's a dream case for any attorney
She already mentioned she will most likely not... she is a student and has too much on her plate for something like this. Her degree is more important, especially in US where learning costs a fortune
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It's a complete scam. Work your life away for next to nothing, only to be fired whenever it suits some parasite in upper mismanagement. And they dare call this 'freedom'.
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They do. At the very least, real labor laws would require minimum wage boosts annually and a ban on firing without iron-clad just cause. No more at-will dismissals.
Load More Replies... I hope she doesn't live in one of those new all but ban on abortion states. They'll go after miscarriages next because there's no real way to differentiate between them. Think it can't happen? It did in S. America, and in Ireland.
This is war on women!! Gee, blame Her for the baby's death! Just another way to make her miserable. That's what happens when far-right religion interferes with politics.
Load More Replies... Aside from the financial loss, it's just so soul crushing to find out you've been giving blood, sweat and tears to people who think you are worth less than nothing
Yes, she probably has a case with the labor board but realistically, it’s so little money that a lawyer is unaffordable. They do this because they can.
Good old at-will employment. The employee can't sue and the only consequences the employer faces is paying the unemployment insurance. This is what is wrong with non-union employment.
It's not a case of union vs non-union, it's a case of "The USA has some seriously messed up employment laws". This would simply not be legal ANYWHERE in Western Europe.
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Thank f**k for British employment laws, and f**k everyone who was involved in firing this poor girl, ruthless!
what a horrible thing to do.... the loss of a fetus is heartbreaking and this just added insult to injury
This happened to me too. I felt like I was reading about myself. Walmart is awful to it's employees, I went through this almost 14 years ago, sadly I live in a small town where Walmart is about the only employer around. I'm sorry you had to experience this, unfortunately to Walmart we're truly just a warm body to them, they don't care one bit about their employees.
Oh Rikki, that's terrible. I'm sorry. Walmart is just so terrible.
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Walmart def sucks. Apple uses sedgewick as well and sedgewick is the worst hr firm i have dealt with. They are unhelpful and unwavering in protocols. I lost my job at apple because i took a leave of absence due to mental health issues, my veteran affairs dr wouldnt sign paperwork saying the time off was medically necessary, despite my manager advocating for me i still got laid off. The time off was covered by fmla but to come back to work the dr has to say you are able to return, but also say time off was medically necessary. For something that was only supposed to be a week or so ended up me fighting to try and keep my job for like 3 months only to essentially be told i was SOL. The whole ordeal did not help my already precarious mental health issues.
State and Federal Laws Against Wrongful Discharge and Wrongful Termination Under New Jersey law, absent an employment contract, all employment is at-will. In other words, an employer generally can terminate an employee at any time for any reason. There are exceptions to the at-will rule, though, and if an employee's termination falls under an exception, it may constitute an unlawful termination and provide the basis for a wrongful termination claim. For instance, it is illegal for an employer to terminate an employee for discriminatory reasons, in retaliation for reporting a violation or exercising certain rights, or in violation of a contract between the employee and employer. There are numerous state and federal laws that define what constitutes a discriminatory basis for terminating an employee. Our wrongful termination attorneys can help New Jersey employees bring claims under any of these laws. For example, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act makes it illegal for an employer to fir
fire a person based on their religion, sex, color, race, or national origin. Additionally, federal laws prohibit discrimination based on age, physical or mental disabilities, or because of pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition. Similarly, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination bars employers from terminating employees due to their race, nationality, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and numerous other protected classes.
Load More Replies... I hope some lawyer takes her case pro-bono. Then I hope this story gets major social-media attention. Walmart needs to pay and pay and pay.
You're right, but ... but they do this all the time. Business as usual to them ... they don't even think this is any kind of special, but just normal behaviour ... those who actually fire people are just a similar liitle wheel in this giant machinery of assholery, they maybe even don't get what they've sold their soul for. Walmart provides reasons to be boycotted like every day ... this one stands out to any decent person who feels any compassion, as every story about being fired for health issues of whatever kind is a crime out of shameless greed in its very own right ... it's just that they do that whenever they get a chance to. And, yeah, some lawyer should takte this, pro-bono each time, and make it a hard time to all those enemies of actually working people... Who throw in a lot more effort than any of the higher-ups who're busy all day sitting their asses flat and flatter.
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I am so sorry that yet another sh!t employer finds a way to make having a miscarriage even harder than it is already. My heart goes out to you for your loss (I've had 4 miscarriages and 1 still birth). Unfortunately, it's not only large companies that do this. I had something similar happen to me. The company whom I'd been with for over 4yrs, guilted me into returning to work the day after my 3rd loss. When I couldn't keep it together the owner was pissed that she couldn't get my manager to cover for me and that she had to come close herself. When I asked for the next week off she totally shamed me like it was supposed to be no biggy. Sadly, most employers don't give a funk about your health/sanity one way or another.
I used to be an FMLA case manager. In most states, pregnancy - including miscarriage & PPD - is covered from the first day you start work. WalMart should have directed the employee to file an FMLA claim. Perhaps that is why they told her to call Sedgewick? If Sedgewick was responsible for HR functions, and did not inform her she needed to file for FMLA, she needs to sue the ba***rds.
Seriously ... we need to change things like this. We need to demand being treated as decent people, and make sure that we cannot just be replaced by people in even more misery, who are being ripped off even worse, and who are being taken even more advantage of. Join unions! There needs to be no way to block out union members - if everyone is one, it sure is not gonna happen. We gotta understand that, in this world, no revolution will occur, let alone in our favor, and neither shall we even try to - we've come pretty far, but also, the part of the working class having the most means to make themselves heard, got fat-assed, lazy carenots who wouldn't even do one minute of labor towards their fellow working class members' interest, but brush off doing unpaid overtime as being "just a few minutes here and there". We gotta be proud to deliver grade-A work - and demand that the counterparts act accordingly, proudly paying grade-A salaries. How'bout that? Join a union! Make yourself heard! A store pulling such would, in the EU, get in serious trouble. Why not in the US? Why do they get away with such? Why doesn't EVERYBODY in that store drop their stuff, stop working, right at the moment they learn about this? Why don't people stand up for one another? Because we're trained not to, trained to not care about that, but be grateful for every and any job. If we can act in favor of the company's interest, we can act in favor of our fellows interest, can't we? But ... but DO we?
I had a friend that worked for Medsynergies, and they fired her for having a stroke at work. There are some VERY EVIL and heinously VILE and CORRUPT companies out there that DO NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT HUMAN LIFE!
Here are the required procedure for Walmart "To request your leave with Sedgwick you'll need: Your Walmart Identification Number (WIN) Personal contact information. The reason for your leave. The fax number for your doctor, if you're requesting a medical or family care leave. If the gal didn't know the procedures, that's on her. The company can't hold every ones hand. Like school , you have to call in if you are not going in. DON"T assume you're covered. IF it's noted or logged in by the 'system' --you're good. (notice the ID# for employee as well as the other info to log in about. Mommy / boss is not who provides that, put the big girl panties on and follow the requirements) harsh? I didn't make the rules ,but I'd be expected to follow them.
Verizon too. Literally had my blood pressure bottom out to the point I passed out and was unresponsive(internal bleeding from a rupture). They carted me out to the lobby and placed a blanket on me so I looked like a guest that nodded of in the lobby til my emergency contact I was taken to the ER by my father and released after imaging determined that I was no longer bleeding and the IV raised my blood pressure to normal. Went to doctor the next day for documentation. He only would auth two days off as there was no medical reason after my meds got adjusted. My work denied the claim as I did not miss the mandatory minimum of 7 days for fmla to kick in and fired me after the holidays. Ironically I won several customer service awards during that time and no one saw it coming
Load More Replies... That poor woman. I feel disgusted that she had to go through this.Walmart should be ashamed for firing her.
Yeah, where's the empathy? The HR nitwit and boss didn't say a thing about being sorry and that pisses me off.
Load More Replies... OMG she will sue, and they will be begging to settle for a very fat amount. it's a dream case for any attorney
She already mentioned she will most likely not... she is a student and has too much on her plate for something like this. Her degree is more important, especially in US where learning costs a fortune
Load More Replies... It's a complete scam. Work your life away for next to nothing, only to be fired whenever it suits some parasite in upper mismanagement. And they dare call this 'freedom'.
Load More Replies... They do. At the very least, real labor laws would require minimum wage boosts annually and a ban on firing without iron-clad just cause. No more at-will dismissals.
Load More Replies... I hope she doesn't live in one of those new all but ban on abortion states. They'll go after miscarriages next because there's no real way to differentiate between them. Think it can't happen? It did in S. America, and in Ireland.
This is war on women!! Gee, blame Her for the baby's death! Just another way to make her miserable. That's what happens when far-right religion interferes with politics.
Load More Replies... Aside from the financial loss, it's just so soul crushing to find out you've been giving blood, sweat and tears to people who think you are worth less than nothing
Yes, she probably has a case with the labor board but realistically, it’s so little money that a lawyer is unaffordable. They do this because they can.
Good old at-will employment. The employee can't sue and the only consequences the employer faces is paying the unemployment insurance. This is what is wrong with non-union employment.
It's not a case of union vs non-union, it's a case of "The USA has some seriously messed up employment laws". This would simply not be legal ANYWHERE in Western Europe.
Load More Replies... Thank f**k for British employment laws, and f**k everyone who was involved in firing this poor girl, ruthless!
what a horrible thing to do.... the loss of a fetus is heartbreaking and this just added insult to injury
This happened to me too. I felt like I was reading about myself. Walmart is awful to it's employees, I went through this almost 14 years ago, sadly I live in a small town where Walmart is about the only employer around. I'm sorry you had to experience this, unfortunately to Walmart we're truly just a warm body to them, they don't care one bit about their employees.
Oh Rikki, that's terrible. I'm sorry. Walmart is just so terrible.
Load More Replies... Walmart def sucks. Apple uses sedgewick as well and sedgewick is the worst hr firm i have dealt with. They are unhelpful and unwavering in protocols. I lost my job at apple because i took a leave of absence due to mental health issues, my veteran affairs dr wouldnt sign paperwork saying the time off was medically necessary, despite my manager advocating for me i still got laid off. The time off was covered by fmla but to come back to work the dr has to say you are able to return, but also say time off was medically necessary. For something that was only supposed to be a week or so ended up me fighting to try and keep my job for like 3 months only to essentially be told i was SOL. The whole ordeal did not help my already precarious mental health issues.
State and Federal Laws Against Wrongful Discharge and Wrongful Termination Under New Jersey law, absent an employment contract, all employment is at-will. In other words, an employer generally can terminate an employee at any time for any reason. There are exceptions to the at-will rule, though, and if an employee's termination falls under an exception, it may constitute an unlawful termination and provide the basis for a wrongful termination claim. For instance, it is illegal for an employer to terminate an employee for discriminatory reasons, in retaliation for reporting a violation or exercising certain rights, or in violation of a contract between the employee and employer. There are numerous state and federal laws that define what constitutes a discriminatory basis for terminating an employee. Our wrongful termination attorneys can help New Jersey employees bring claims under any of these laws. For example, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act makes it illegal for an employer to fir
fire a person based on their religion, sex, color, race, or national origin. Additionally, federal laws prohibit discrimination based on age, physical or mental disabilities, or because of pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition. Similarly, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination bars employers from terminating employees due to their race, nationality, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and numerous other protected classes.
Load More Replies... I hope some lawyer takes her case pro-bono. Then I hope this story gets major social-media attention. Walmart needs to pay and pay and pay.
You're right, but ... but they do this all the time. Business as usual to them ... they don't even think this is any kind of special, but just normal behaviour ... those who actually fire people are just a similar liitle wheel in this giant machinery of assholery, they maybe even don't get what they've sold their soul for. Walmart provides reasons to be boycotted like every day ... this one stands out to any decent person who feels any compassion, as every story about being fired for health issues of whatever kind is a crime out of shameless greed in its very own right ... it's just that they do that whenever they get a chance to. And, yeah, some lawyer should takte this, pro-bono each time, and make it a hard time to all those enemies of actually working people... Who throw in a lot more effort than any of the higher-ups who're busy all day sitting their asses flat and flatter.
Load More Replies... I am so sorry that yet another sh!t employer finds a way to make having a miscarriage even harder than it is already. My heart goes out to you for your loss (I've had 4 miscarriages and 1 still birth). Unfortunately, it's not only large companies that do this. I had something similar happen to me. The company whom I'd been with for over 4yrs, guilted me into returning to work the day after my 3rd loss. When I couldn't keep it together the owner was pissed that she couldn't get my manager to cover for me and that she had to come close herself. When I asked for the next week off she totally shamed me like it was supposed to be no biggy. Sadly, most employers don't give a funk about your health/sanity one way or another.
I used to be an FMLA case manager. In most states, pregnancy - including miscarriage & PPD - is covered from the first day you start work. WalMart should have directed the employee to file an FMLA claim. Perhaps that is why they told her to call Sedgewick? If Sedgewick was responsible for HR functions, and did not inform her she needed to file for FMLA, she needs to sue the ba***rds.
Seriously ... we need to change things like this. We need to demand being treated as decent people, and make sure that we cannot just be replaced by people in even more misery, who are being ripped off even worse, and who are being taken even more advantage of. Join unions! There needs to be no way to block out union members - if everyone is one, it sure is not gonna happen. We gotta understand that, in this world, no revolution will occur, let alone in our favor, and neither shall we even try to - we've come pretty far, but also, the part of the working class having the most means to make themselves heard, got fat-assed, lazy carenots who wouldn't even do one minute of labor towards their fellow working class members' interest, but brush off doing unpaid overtime as being "just a few minutes here and there". We gotta be proud to deliver grade-A work - and demand that the counterparts act accordingly, proudly paying grade-A salaries. How'bout that? Join a union! Make yourself heard! A store pulling such would, in the EU, get in serious trouble. Why not in the US? Why do they get away with such? Why doesn't EVERYBODY in that store drop their stuff, stop working, right at the moment they learn about this? Why don't people stand up for one another? Because we're trained not to, trained to not care about that, but be grateful for every and any job. If we can act in favor of the company's interest, we can act in favor of our fellows interest, can't we? But ... but DO we?
I had a friend that worked for Medsynergies, and they fired her for having a stroke at work. There are some VERY EVIL and heinously VILE and CORRUPT companies out there that DO NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT HUMAN LIFE!
Here are the required procedure for Walmart "To request your leave with Sedgwick you'll need: Your Walmart Identification Number (WIN) Personal contact information. The reason for your leave. The fax number for your doctor, if you're requesting a medical or family care leave. If the gal didn't know the procedures, that's on her. The company can't hold every ones hand. Like school , you have to call in if you are not going in. DON"T assume you're covered. IF it's noted or logged in by the 'system' --you're good. (notice the ID# for employee as well as the other info to log in about. Mommy / boss is not who provides that, put the big girl panties on and follow the requirements) harsh? I didn't make the rules ,but I'd be expected to follow them.
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