Nationwide — An unnamed African American father working as a UPS driver has quit his job after his supervisors told him he could not leave to pick up his sick daughter because he had no paid time off remaining. He recorded a video of the moment, which quickly went viral online.
The 31-second clip, posted on X by @raphousetv2, shows the driver sitting in his truck in full uniform. He explained that his request to leave was denied, so he chose to walk away instead of staying on his route.
In the video, the father spoke directly to the camera with frustration. “Let me make this clear. It ain’t gonna ever be a time when my daughter needs me and I don’t come through. I don’t care about no PTO,” he said, according to Hip-Hop Vibe.
The video quickly went viral, gaining nearly 6 million views and more than 71,000 likes. Parents and workers shared the clip, calling it an example of the tough choices employees face when family emergencies collide with workplace rules..
For hourly workers, running out of PTO often means risking discipline or termination if an emergency arises. The UPS driver made it clear that his daughter came first, declaring, “If the school calls, I’m leaving.” His words quickly spread online as a rallying cry for parents.
Many viewers voiced support, with comments like “No job comes before your kid.” Others shared their own struggles balancing work with family needs. Some critics argued he could have taken unpaid leave or planned his PTO differently, sparking debate over workplace flexibility.
The incident also highlighted a broader issue in the United States: the lack of guaranteed paid family leave. While federal protections exist in limited cases, many workers are left choosing between their paycheck and their children.