When Your Boss Thinks Pregnancy Is Contagious: Hilarious Tales from the Clueless Corporate World
If you’ve ever worked in an office, you know that managers come in all shapes, sizes, and levels of… let’s say, “awareness.” But every so often, a story emerges that makes you wonder how some people ever graduate to a corner office. Enter u/A-Helpful-Flamingo’s latest update on r/StoriesAboutKevin, chronicling the truly jaw-dropping cluelessness of a male boss who seemingly missed every possible memo about pregnancy, bodily autonomy, and, well, basic biology.
Pour yourself a cup of coffee, because you’re about to be entertained—and maybe left shaking your head in disbelief.
Pregnancy Panic in the Boardroom
So, what exactly happened? According to the post (and the deliciously detailed update), our protagonist’s male boss managed to combine ignorance, awkwardness, and a dash of corporate overreach into a perfect comedic storm. The original saga apparently began when a pregnant employee asked for simple accommodations—think bathroom breaks and a more comfortable chair. Instead of responding with empathy or, you know, common decency, the boss panicked. His questions included such gems as:
- “Is pregnancy contagious?”
- “Will this affect other employees?”
- “How do you… catch it?”
If you’re reading this while pregnant, don’t worry—you can’t pass it through the screen. Yet.
The update reveals that after being gently (and repeatedly) educated by HR, the boss’s confusion only seemed to deepen. He allegedly instituted a “no pregnancy talk” rule, fearing it might “influence” other employees to catch the “pregnancy bug.” One can only imagine his reaction to a baby shower in the break room.
Workplace Woes: When Biology 101 Isn’t Enough
While the story is undeniably hilarious, it’s also a glaring example of what happens when bad bosses meet basic biology. Most people leave high school health class with, at the very least, a rudimentary grasp of human reproduction and workplace etiquette. But as this story demonstrates, some folks somehow miss the memo—and then get promoted to management.
Let’s break down a few lessons from this corporate comedy:
- Pregnancy isn’t contagious (but embarrassment might be): No, you cannot “catch” pregnancy by sitting next to someone. But you can catch a serious case of secondhand embarrassment from this boss’s antics.
- Accommodations are legal (and decent!): Federal laws like the Pregnancy Discrimination Act require reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees. This isn’t charity—it’s the law.
- HR is your friend (sometimes): In this case, HR tried to educate the boss, but sometimes HR is the last line of defense between clueless management and the sanity of your workplace.
- Communication is key: Instead of shutting down “pregnancy talk,” maybe try… listening? A wild idea, we know.
Why These Stories Matter (and Make Us Laugh)
The beauty of r/StoriesAboutKevin is its ability to shine a light on the everyday absurdities of office life. We laugh at stories like these not just because they’re funny—though they absolutely are—but because they remind us that the modern workplace is still, at times, a wild and untamed frontier.
But there’s a silver lining: Stories like this encourage us to be better colleagues and, for those in leadership, better bosses. They teach us that empathy and basic education go a long way. And, if nothing else, they give us something to share at the next Zoom happy hour.
The Takeaway: Laugh, Learn, and Share Your Own Tales
So the next time you hear a coworker ask if pregnancy is catching, take a deep breath, summon your inner Flamingo, and remember: you’re not alone. Somewhere out there, another boss is probably worrying about the risk of “catching” twins.
Have you ever worked with a boss who made you question reality? Or do you have your own “Kevin” story to share? Sound off in the comments below! And if you need a daily dose of workplace absurdity, you know where to find us—right here, recapping the best (and worst) of corporate life, one clueless boss at a time.
Original Reddit Post: [New Update]: Male boss is clueless about pregnancy