[Magic_Mikki]

I went back to work yesterday. I only work part time for about 5 hours an evening, a few times a week. Not bad, but I still need to pump. One of emy managers is wonderful, and had twin boys, so when I was ready to come back to work, I told her I needed to pump at work and she was soooo helpful! She told me I could use the managers' office and tape a piece of paper over the door with a note saying Do Not Disturb.

So yesterday, right when I got to work, I let the manager on duty know that I would be needing to pump whenever I got the chance. (The manager yesterday was a different one than the one I talked to originally.) She said ok, but seemed a little apprehensive. When the time came, I let her know, and suddenly she was like, "Uhh.. yeah. Well, um... I don't think you can use the office. You can use the employee bathroom!" EWWWW! The employee bathroom, that hasn't been cleaned in two years, and I don't even go to the bathroom in there as it is! Let alone PUMP Food for my child! I work in a restaurant, so the guest's bathroom is off limits, too. Wasn't going to pump in that public bathroom! Anyway, She didn't want me to use the office because no one is allowed to be alone in there. Either I would have to leave the DOOR OPEN! or she would have to sit in there WITH ME! I am so incredibly appalled, I could just scream!

I didn't know what to do, and I know she could tell that I was angry. I told her it takes less than 10 minutes (Not sure how long it really takes, as I'd hardly pumped yet!) and eventually she said she would let me (an hour after I'd told her I needed to pump) but she said it is a one-time deal and I'm not allowed to be alone in the office from now on, and she will be talking to the other managers about it. So, not even 5 minutes into my pumping session, she is banging on the door asking if I'm done pumping... right there for everyone to hear!!!! Now the entire restaruant and staff knows what I'm doing!! I was so embarrassed I nearly started to cry. I just packed up my stuff (and my whole Two ounces!!!) and got out of there.

I know it's so illegal for them to not provide me with a place to pump. I have worked in other restaurants where women have pumped in the manager's office! There are exceptions, ya know? And for her to even SUGGEST I pump in the nasty employee bathroom angers me! It's written right in the Act that the workplace has to provide a safe, clean environment-- not a bathroom-- for this. She needs to read that Act! Anyway, unfortunately I will hardly be working with the understanding manager. The other manager that I will be facing on Thursday when I work is the guy who, when I originally told him I was pregnant, said, "Great! Now I have to bend over backwards for you because you decide to get knocked up again!" (And he was actually serious and pissed.) So you can imagine how he will react when I have to take over his office- all by myself!- to pump my boobs. Not a good deal.

I'm nervous to even bring the subject up. I hate confrontation, for the most part. And I also hate making people go out of their way for me. It makes me feel so icky inside, and I will do whatever it takes to avoid it. However, I have to pump, even if my shifts are only 4-5 hours long! I need this pumped milk for when I'm at work! I just don't know what to do or what to say. The General Manager of the store, who would have all final say over everything, is a man, also. He would be understanding because I'm sure he knows all these little rules, but I'm so embarrassed now to even bring it up!

Has anyone else had workplace problems?? How did you handle them?? Thanks in advance!

[MissyChrissy]

(((HUGS))) At least you know you're within your legal right to make the request. You really NEED to stand up to them and fight for your right. Not only for you and your little one, but for any other subsequent pumping momma that comes along.

It's so sad that in this day and age people have such a negative attitude about this. I would love to go in there and advocate for you.

[MommaColleen]

Where DH works they actually made a longe for nursing mothers to use when they needed to pump. It even had a fridge for them to keep the milk in umtil they left that day.

Good for you standing up for yourself.

[mcmama]

It is a management issue for policy, and they need to solve it. You have a legitimate grievance and this could be interpreted as sexual discrimination.

They need to solve the problem of providing you with a clean place to pump for less than 20 minutes a shift. Your need to pump will decrease as you get used to it and your body regulates supply.

Otherwise you are going to be leaking all over the customers.

The employee bathroom is filthy in a restaurant?

Perhaps an arrangement can be made for you to use the office and for them to be mindful of putting certain items away. But they HAVE to do it. You are pumping food for your child, not excrement.

If you are only concerned about relieving pressure and keeping up supply, and not preserving it, the bathroom may be the most practical place, but not the most comfortable. When I got stuck in some places after Joe was born and could not nurse, ducking into the bathroom and hand expressing and discarding worked for me for the moment. So it depends on what your objective is, and how you want to move forward with this.

[mcmama]

And banging on the door subjecting you to pressure in five minutes time is harrassment.

[2girls]

Where I work, there is NO place to pump. I work in a small office, and there is only one bathroom for the women, and one bathroom for the men. There are no private offices that do not have windows where other's can easily see inside.
So, to solve my problem, in the past, I've pumped in my vehicle outside. Is that an option for you?

[poliscmjr]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I can't believe you're back to work already. You only had the baby 2 weeks ago.

I have no adice as I'm not bfing and this is one of the reasons. There is no place at my office to pump, and I didn't want to go through what you are. So I chose to ff ds.

I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself. Good luck and we are all here for you!

[vanaden]

What state do you live in?

[purelegance]

I would bring it up with the DM then the Regional Manager. Technically what they are doing is illegal, and i'm pretty sure the last thing they want is a lawsuit. (and normally, a lawsuit dealing with breastfeeding leads to some sort of protest, which gets ugly). You're lucky the law states that they're required to give you a place to pump. Here, i had to pump in the bathroom during my 15 minute break (in which i would normally run over my 15 minutes because DD ate a ton!) I ended up just working once a week because it became such a hassle. Once DD started eating more solids than breastmilk, i increased my availibility. basically, my work schedule depended on how much she needed me. GL!

[Magic_Mikki]

To answer your question, McMama, yes the employee bathroom at my work is incredibly filthy! We have a lot of employees, and the company that cleans our guest bathroom does not clean the employee bathroom. That leaves the employees to clean it, and that doesn't happen. It barely even gets stocked! Needless to say, only the "questionable" use that bathroom!

Also, I don't pump for excretement. I pump so that the next time I have to be gone there is a supply at home. I'm just blown away that the manager was so unhelpful. It angers me. And embarrasses me. I'm thinking about changing my schedule so that I work only with the manager who is understanding. (She's great, really!) But her hours flex and I'm also not really available on those days. Not to mention, I shouldn't have to change my hours for this reason! **** corporate restaurant can't even accomodate a breastfeeding mother for 15 minutes a couple times a week!