“I’m Gonna Call Corporate” — Pregnant Worker Shocked Man Expected Her To Help Him Lift Mattress
NAPERVILLE, Illinois — A pregnant mattress store employee went viral after sharing how a male customer berated her for refusing to lift a heavy box, despite being nearly nine months pregnant.
The worker, who goes by Kelly Bee (@kellybee333) on TikTok, detailed the uncomfortable encounter in a viral video that has sparked widespread outrage and conversation about workplace expectations for pregnant employees.
“Can y’all please tell me if I am in the wrong?” she asked her viewers. “Because I literally just had a customer tell me he’s going to corporate on me.”
Kelly then stood up in her clip, revealing her visibly pregnant belly. “Mind you, I am 37 weeks pregnant,” she said. “And this man — a very able-bodied man — expected me to help him carry a mattress box.”
The Confrontation
According to Kelly, the customer walked into her store looking to buy a bed-in-a-box. After confirming the item was in stock, she asked whether he planned to pick it up or have it delivered.
“He said he wanted to pick it up, and I told him, ‘That’s fine, but I can’t help you move it,’” she recalled.
Rather than understanding her situation, the man became confrontational. “He goes, ‘Then who’s gonna help me move it?’” she said. “I told him I have a dolly and can help push it to the door, but I can’t lift it. And he said, ‘Then what are you working for?’”
Kelly, who was the only employee scheduled that day, said the customer became increasingly agitated. “He told me he was going to call corporate because I wouldn’t help him,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re a man — and you’re bullying a pregnant woman?”
The Reality Of Lifting While Pregnant
Kelly later showed the type of mattress boxes in question, explaining that they weigh between 62 and 71 pounds, according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
“Even though they’re rolled up, they’re still as heavy as a full-size mattress,” she said, pointing to the stack of boxes behind her. “He was trying to get me to lift one of these!”
@kellybee333 Who is in the wrong? Bc I’m FURIOUS #storytime #workingwhilepregnant #amitheproblem #fyp
Medical experts agree that such lifting can be dangerous. According to BabyCenter, pregnant women’s ligaments loosen and their joints become less stable, increasing the risk of injury. After 20 weeks of pregnancy, experts recommend lifting no more than 26 pounds at a time.
Organizations such as the Mayo Clinic and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have also issued advisories warning pregnant employees to avoid heavy lifting — especially from the ground level, as Kelly’s boxes were stored.
“I’m not sending myself to the hospital over that,” Kelly said. “And he’s mad? I can’t physically move every single one of these boxes alone.”
Online Outrage And Support
Viewers quickly rallied behind Kelly in the comments section, calling the man’s behavior “disrespectful” and “beyond entitled.”
“Corporate should be calling him for harassment, not you,” one user wrote. Another added, “I used to work retail while pregnant — customers like that are why people quit.”
Others criticized the store for allegedly scheduling her for long shifts alone while in her third trimester. “Your company is at fault,” one commenter said. “You shouldn’t be working 12-hour shifts solo at 37 weeks.”
A Larger Workplace Conversation
Kelly’s story has reignited a broader discussion about how employers and customers treat pregnant workers — particularly in labor-intensive or customer-facing jobs.
The U.S. Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which took effect in 2023, requires most employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees, such as lighter duty or assistance with physical tasks.
“I’m just trying to make a living,” Kelly said. “But I’m not risking my baby’s health for someone who can’t move his own mattress.”
Her viral story has since received thousands of supportive comments from fellow retail workers, parents, and health professionals alike — many calling it a “wake-up call” for both companies and customers.
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