He said, “Congrats! Take leave anytime.” I requested 12 weeks of fully paid maternity leave, and it was approved. I felt supported until I saw my payslip a month later: zero. Panic hit—savings couldn’t cover bills or baby prep. I called my boss, who casually said, “I told HR you wanted unpaid leave.” Stunned, I clarified I’d applied for paid leave, but he admitted he misread the form, saying I’d be paid upon return. Unacceptable with a baby coming.

I gathered emails and approval letters, then contacted HR. They were furious, discovering my boss had mishandled multiple requests. Within a week, I got my full back pay, and HR tightened their review process to prevent future errors. Holding my newborn months later, I realized how close I’d been to financial ruin. This taught me to keep records, speak up, and fight for what’s mine.