What would you do for a little extra time off? In a world where paid time off (PTO) is often scarce and precious, some employees go to surprising—and sometimes shocking—lengths to secure it. Recently, a viral story broke about an employee who faked a pregnancy using a photoshopped sonogram to gain three weeks of PTO after exhausting her vacation days (source). This tale of deception has stirred up conversations about workplace benefits, personal struggles, and the hidden pressures many face when balancing fertility challenges with job responsibilities. But what does this mean for the millions trying to conceive without the luxury of prolonged breaks? Let’s unpack this.