Welcoming a new child into the world should be a joyful time for any parent and is a precious time to bond with their newborn. However, TikTok user @d0nutsambal recently shared a series of screenshots of his messages with his employer where he was asked to resign merely for asking for paternity leave.
He posted the video posted on 5 May with the caption ‘Rezki itu luas, Aku berserah kepadanya’ or ‘provision is immense, I leave it to God’. The video has been viewed over 1.1M times.
In the Whatsapp messages, the man started the conversation with his employer requesting for a week’s leave because his wife gave birth. The employer then questioned him saying that his baby was only due on 25 May. After the man explained that the baby had arrived earlier than expected, the employer continued to bombard him with sarcastic questions saying “So how about your work? Who is going to finish them? Me?”
After the man insisted that he had to look after his wife, his employer told him to just quit. Then he asked for proof, upon which the man sent a photo of the maternity ward. The employer said he was being ‘difficult’ and told him to quit again, saying that he no longer had to come to work. The man started to plead with his wife saying that he needed work as he had a family to look after.
The employer insisted that he didn’t want the man to work for him any longer and would give him his pay on the seventh day of the month. He then proceeded to say that he had already found a replacement for the man despite his appeal. Even after the man apologised, the employer did not reply to his messages.
According to the Employment Act 1955 (Amendment) 2022, paternity leave begins on the date the employee's wife gives birth and lasts seven days if the conditions are met. This was statutorily provided starting 1 January 2023.
The TikTok user commented on his video saying ‘Should I go to work the day after tomorrow or should I go to the labour office?’
Comments also poured in from outraged netizens advising him to bring his offer letter and the screenshots to the labour office as evidence. Others asked him to share the name of the company so that other employees would be aware of their mistreatment of workers. Another shared her experience of being forced to quit when she was pregnant.
The saddest thing about this incident is that the person who posted the screenshots didn't think they had a case against the employer:
"What can I get (if I report thisi incident)? I'll be the one to get reprimanded at the company instead. If I lose my case do I have to pay?"
What do you think of this incident? Have you heard of any similar cases?
Image credit: @d0nutsambal, charlesdeluvio on Unsplash