Human Resources Season 1 Episode 5 Love in the Time of Postpartum

After undergoing a childbirth, one of the employees of TerraCycle named Michael was left juggling his role as a new father while still being active in his work. While he had come up with a solution that allowed him to bring his baby to work, his wife was struggling with postpartum depression, leaving him to care for the child during his regular work hours.

As Michael tried to navigate the demands of being a new father with the pressures of his job, TerraCycle decided to launch a new program for its employees - a match-making program that would encourage its workers to start families. While the announcement was meant to be well-received, it was met with varying reactions.

Some, like Michael, saw it as an opportunity to receive additional perks such as extended parental leave. Others, like HR representative Erin, questioned the ethics of such a program and how it may lead to discrimination against those who choose not to have children or who may not fall into the traditional family structure.

Meanwhile, the company had to deal with other HR issues such as an employee who was caught circulating a meme of a co-worker. And as the company became more obsessed with facilitating relationships, it was revealed that one couple had actually hooked up on company time and were now struggling to keep their relationship hidden from their colleagues.

With all of these HR issues converging, tensions begin to rise within TerraCycle, leaving the future of the company hanging in the balance. The episode explores the intersection between family life and work responsibilities, and what happens when individual choices in one sphere affect those in the other.