If I were that low-income mom (and I HAVE been her) I would have, in fact, slapped his face.

I've been there, too. We got pregnant right before a recession hit, and then my pregnancy was difficult, which meant lots more out of pocket for copays. We almost skipped Christmas for my 2 year old. At the last minute, we were able to put a tiny Christmas together with some homemade cookies, a 2nd hand tree and some Little People sets that Ollie's (or Big Lots? I don't remember) had put on a deep discount. It was one of the best Christmases we ever had, and I doubt we paid $20.

If some asshole criticized me-- one who broke up his own family by being as asshole, to boot! I would have reacted so strongly I'd have gotten fired. I actually admire his coworker's restraint. And I bet the only reason he didn't go to HR is because he would have had to repeat what he said to her in the first place.