At not point am I trying to exploit any system for my side hobby. I am no trying to leave sooner than I was before covid, or have more free time. My colleague, on the other hand, is doing exactly that. He wants to leave sooner - reportedly to care for his child (I believe him). And because he wants to leave sooner, I actually have to leave later. And the fact that it is suddenly forced upon me to change my schedule because he wants me to, is the root of the problem.

I'm a little surprised at the flack you're getting.

I'm with you though. If I have personal obligations, I shouldn't feel any pressure to help out a coworker by working later than normal with no additional incentive just because they have children and I don't. And if I decline to help out that coworker, I shouldn't be publicly shamed.

I thought that's why the childless were obligated to school taxes and inflated health insurance premiums?

The child rearing consume what the childless have earned under the "do what's best for everyone" motif of social programs. Who's getting the best? Do the childless get to participate in this best?

Do the childless get to participate in programs meant for parents with children? No, of course not.

I really don't understand how you can have a perspective that leads to this question.