Work friendships can be comforting—until they twist into something that makes you question everything. Like when someone asks for your bonus. Not because I skipped work. But because you don’t have children.
That’s exactly what happened to one woman, who posted her story in the r/EntitledPeople subreddit under the caption: “My colleague asked me to give her my bonus because I don’t have kids—what should I do?”
At first, she laughed. It had to be a joke. But her colleague, a mother, was “deadly serious.”
“Her point was that I don’t have responsibilities and it seems I’m always spending and I don’t seem to need her like she does,” the woman wrote. “And she does the same job as me anyway.”
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The request left her frozen in place — teabag midair — and reeling from what felt like a shocking betrayal.
“I feel so used,” she said. “I feel like she used everything I ever said to her against me, and took advantage of the fact that I’m a nice person.” Over the years, she filled in at early childcare pickups, took on extra work during mom’s tough personal periods, and believed they were actually friends.
“Now she feels like she was waiting for the right moment to see what she can squeeze out of me,” she continued. “Or is she literally a narcissist because in what world is it okay to ask someone else to do that?”
She described the exchange as “manipulative and almost bully-like … with how adamant she wanted him.”
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Workplace Sharing Between Parents and Child Free Workers
That kind of emotional rain is not uncommon. According to a 2022 ResumeLab study, 72% of workers said they have seen employees without children treated unfairly at work. And while 67% also noted poor treatment of parents due to caregiving conflicts, perception was clearly skewed in one direction: 74% of respondents — many of whom were parents — said that people with children are treated better in the workplace in general.
No sympathy for the mother
Commentators on the spot did not hesitate to support the woman.
“I would obviously tell her no, and not lift a finger to help her or cover for her in the future,” one advised.
“She’s decided to bite the hand that feeds—or in this case, the hand that’s been covering her ass,” wrote another.
Others encouraged drawing firm boundaries and going to management if the behavior continues. “If you press it, talk to HR or management,” said one. “You’re in the right here.”
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One commenter offered a professional but direct response: “This is very inappropriate and completely unprofessional of you to make that request of me. Having children is not my responsibility.”
Many could not believe the audacity of the question. “Who does this and seriously expects the coworker to give them their money because they chose to have children?” asked one.
The consensus was firm: friendship does not justify financial manipulation, and parenthood does not entitle you to someone else’s salary.
“I earned that bonus,” concluded one user. “She can lead her own life.”
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The article ‘I Thought We Were Friends,’ Says Woman After Coworker Claims Her Bonus—Arguing She’s A Free Spender And Doesn’t Have Kids, So She Doesn’t Need It appeared originally on Benzinga.com
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