When Natalie told her boss she was pregnant, he warmly congratulated her and approved 12 weeks of paid maternity leave. All seemed well—until a month into her leave, she discovered her payslip showed a zero salary.
He quietly informed HR that she’d opted for unpaid leave—without discussing it with her—so he could redistribute her pay as bonuses to coworkers covering her tasks.
What should’ve been a joyful time with her newborn turned into battles with HR, burned savings, and legal thoughts. Upon returning, her boss pretended everything was fine.
Natalie feels betrayed and powerless. Is it unreasonable to expect fair treatment? Should she fight back—or walk away?