Wes Finley, a marketing professional from Nashville, found himself in an unusual situation after his 5-year-old daughter made a brief appearance during a work video call. This unexpected cameo led to an HR meeting that would change his perception of his workplace.
Balancing his new role as head of marketing with family duties, Finley was handling the situation well—his wife was out of town, and he had given his daughter a tablet to keep her entertained. “I took an 8:30 p.m. call, and she peeked over my shoulder. It didn’t disrupt anything, and honestly, I wasn’t embarrassed. These things happen, right?” he shared in a now-viral Reddit post.
However, things took a turn when he received a call from HR the following Friday. Apparently, the CEO was unhappy about his daughter’s cameo and insisted that Finley switch to a shared WeWork office space. “I kindly refused and said I wouldn’t be heading to a WeWork,” he commented, adding that the company reconsidered, but he was left questioning his future there.
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Flexibility in work is crucial for parents, as highlighted by a FlexJobs survey showing that 61 percent of parents prefer full-time remote work, with 62 percent willing to quit if remote options weren’t available. Finley found himself caught between this flexibility and company expectations, as the company’s reaction to a family moment made him rethink his position.
Though he had been contributing significantly to the company, he felt unappreciated following the CEO’s reaction to his daughter’s appearance. “Instead of gratitude, I got a tone-deaf request to keep my home life away from work,” Finley lamented.
Support for Finley flooded in from the Reddit community, with many encouraging him to consider other job options. He announced he’s scaling back his company involvement, planning to cancel after-hours meetings and keep his video off during regular calls. Having worked with big names like CNN, Coca-Cola, and Meta, Finley is now exploring new opportunities, stating, “I anticipate they might let me go soon if I don’t find something else first.”