Coworker insists nurse trades shifts with her so that she can spend time with her 2 children who are under 10-years-old, begins telling their coworkers that the nurse is selfish: 'You don't have kids, so it's easier for you'

There seems to be a misconception among people who have children that having children entitles them to special treatment. Sure, you made a big choice for yourself and your own life, and your friends and family—and maybe some coworkers you're close to—are very happy for you. Many of us, complete strangers, are even sympathetic to the fact that you're probably incredibly sleep deprived and having had a moment of free time in months.

However, when it comes to the workplace and just going out and about in your general life, you're not entitled to anything just because you have accomplished reproduction. You can't really go around demanding that your coworkers trade shifts with you so that you can spend time with your offspring when the arrangement isn't agreeable to the coworker you're trading with.

Sure, if you're reasonably able, it's always nice to trade shifts with a coworker so that they can do something, and being accommodating means that hopefully, when you need cover, they'll be willing to repay the favor. That being said, I'm sure a lot of us have been in jobs where we got burned one too many times by coworkers who weren't willing to repay clutch shift covers, discouraging us from doing it altogether.