Should child free people have to accommodate people with kids in the workplace?

[LuckyCharms]

87. In one of my old jobs as an HR manager

several decades ago, it was illegal to ask about the applicant's parenthood status during an interview.

I'm assuming that still holds true.

Therefore, parenthood status did not determine fitness for the job.

There was also no formal requirement for childless employees to cover for those with children.

So "have to" accommodate...probably not.

Informally however, some employees would cover for people with children, and some would not.

A formal requirement to cover for those with children would be problematic, considering that everyone has their own responsibilities, even childless people.

Many are caretakers for their aging parents. Also, many desire a social life, and a work/life balance.

It would probably not be advisable for an employer to formally create a policy in which coverage for people with children is mandated. This could only open up a huge can of worms, both legally and with regard to employee morale.

That being said however, company culture may dictate that this coverage be expected, but wrongly so. If this is the case, managers can certainly make your life miserable if you refuse to cover for people with families. They can do it in ways that don't relate to this coverage in order to skirt formal requirements. It all depends on management's willingness to walk a razor's edge when it comes to the legalities surrounding this issue.