Reading about a recent workplace incident has my blood boiling. Picture this: a new mother on maternity leave gets pressured by a fresh manager who seems utterly baffled by the concept that employees might occasionally need time away to, you know, have babies and care for them.

The story hit close to home because my own daughter recently started her first job, and I dread thinking about her potentially facing similar situations in her career. The new manager in this tale repeatedly mentioned how “weird” it was to have someone on the books but not physically present. Really? In 2024? Maternity leave has been around longer than email, for crying out loud.