So my job is being, suddenly… difficult about my pumping at work. We have moved to the new office in ‘Fa Fa Away’ land, and apparently it is smaller and has less space than the office we have left. They - and when I say they I mean my second line supervisor, wants me to pump in the bathroom…
(inset cricket chirp here)
I’ll respond to that in a sec.
I pump three times a day. Including once during my lunch hour. I forgo my breaks in favor of the time I spend pumping. I am discreet. My pump sounds like a small muffled yapping yorkie, but other than that there isn’t anything I can do to make this experience any less apparent to my co-workers or supervisors. I don’t have any requirements for the space I am asked to pump in except the basics.
That it be clean, and that it be sanitary, i.e. not a bathroom.
My reasoning, if you are willing to sit and have lunch in the stall next to me, I’ll make my kids lunch in there. No takers? Well then.
Not to mention that Missouri is one of the nifty states that protects my right to “feed my child in any public or private location where the mother is otherwise authorized to be.” Last time I checked I was authorized to be at work. They gave me a badge to get in with and everything.
So you can just imagine the colorful things I would like to say in response to this resistance.
The thing that ticks me off about this is that, I’ve been pumping, with no incident at all, for the last four months - I didn’t just magically decide to breastfeed this week. But apparently conflict was in the words of Mr. Smith - “Inevitable, Mr. Anderson.” Hopefully the office transfer comes through soon and I can hopefully find - more cooperative pastures else where.
9 Comments
Oh, this sounds just like my work. Unless you are one of the blessed ones who have an office, work in a “bigger” office with all women that you feel comfortable with and them with you, or have a friend who has an office that doesn’t mind that office getting invaded a few times a day they expect you to go to the bathroom with 5 stalls or out to your car to pump. Totally pisses me off, and I couldn’t even breast feed my children. (due to my breast reduction) When I had office space, I offered it up to those I knew who needed it. I’m sorry.
THAT IS TOTAL CRAP. I am pissed for you.
That makes me so mad on your behalf!
When I was pumping at work, I had to do it in a filthy storeroom and I had to wash my hands and the pump in a tiny bathroom sink with no hot water. It wasn’t even that my employer was being a jerk– it was that there WAS nowhere else to do it.
This, and the fact that my son really didn’t like to take bottles anyway, was a major factor in my deciding to quit my job altogether and work from home.
If this country really wants mothers to keep working for the sake of a productive economy and high GDP, it had better rethink its attitudes. Every workplace should strive to have a safe place for women to feed their babies. New office buildings should be built with this in mind. If you can include bathrooms for people with disabilities, you can include a nursing room.
No one should have to eat their meals in a bathroom, and no one should have to make their meals in a bathroom. No one should have to skulk over into a small, dark corner. . . or hide under a blanket. . . or go out to their car. . .
This just pisses me off beyond belief. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with such ignorance.
You might want to have a conversations with a LAWYER. I kno you just want to handle your business. but folks only do this shit when they think they can get a way with it. And honestly they do get away with it. Stay strong and keep the faith.
I feel for you. I’m having problems at work because my boss doesn’t believe in home daycare. Hope’s babysitter was sick ONE day last week and I got an earful. I couldn’t keep my mouth shut this time and I’m lucky I didn’t get fired. I’d had it though.
Sweetie, if I was big on conspiracy theories, I’d think that corporate America is still trying to keep women and mothers out of the workplace. Don’t stop fighting for your rights, and your baby’s right to be breastfed. It’s good for you (reduces your risk of breast and ovarian cancer - which ins co’s ought to support) and it’s great for your baby. If they give you a hard time, just squirt ‘em with a little milk.
And then call a lawyer.
Nursing mothers everywhere support you. (and I’m one too - I have 9 1/2 years and still counting!)
Uggghhhh, I feel for you as a nursing mom who pumped at work w/ my 1st baby. Don’t back down…we got your back!
Ugh. Just reading it pisses me off…..
I am amazed at how society / workforce does not embrace ‘working ‘ mothers.
We are the multi-taskers from hell….if you make us comfortable we will give you 110%.
*Keeping our fingers crossed your transfer comes SOON and that your boss chokes on his/her lunch.