A 43-year-old woman led a major project that put her up for a promotion. Her coworker, a 32-year-old single mom who only handled research, demanded to be listed as project lead, arguing she “deserved it more.” When refused, she complained to HR, claiming discrimination and that the project lead was “gatekeeping opportunities from single parents.”
HR opened an investigation and asked the project lead to step back temporarily, leaving her shocked and unsure if she handled the situation correctly. She feels unfairly villainized for protecting her work, while her coworker appears to be manipulating the situation for career gain.
