https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:05:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/approaching-the-subject-of-pumping-at-work-with-your-boss#post-1065590 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 17:02:24 +0000 kjpugs 1065590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think you should be bringing anything up until partway through your maternity leave, especially since yours will be a longer leave. Partially because- and not to be a debbie downer!- but you don't even know if breastfeeding will "work" for you guys. (OBviously FX it does!) But since it seems like it could be a touchy subject you want to be sure you NEED to ask about it. Then I like the idea of not asking "can I pump" and more saying "I'm going to be pumping X times a day for X minutes, so I wanted to bring it up before I come back so we can figure out the best way to make that work location and time wise." Maybe if you come in to visit sometime through your maternity leave you can bring it up? Good luck!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/approaching-the-subject-of-pumping-at-work-with-your-boss#post-1065554 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 16:44:01 +0000 indi 1065554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You've gotten good advice above, and you know your work locations/options better than I do, so I'd just suggest practicing phrasing how you'll approach it. </p> <p>Rather than asking for permission to pump, make it more of a statement followed up with a request on figuring out the best option for both you and the company. Go in with a few suggestions and highlight the solutions you've already come up with and the areas you'll need organizational input on to show that you've considered both parties.</p> <p> It's easy to say "we can't accommodate that, sorry" if you're asking if it's okay to pump at work. On the other hand, if you go in and say "I am excited to return to work after mat leave and I look forward to getting back to business. I will be using a breast pump x-times / day, so during that time I will focus on emails/paperwork/etc so as not to disturb anyone with the noise over the phone. I'd be glad to do one of these sessions over my lunch hour so as to reduce the amount of client/colleague time that's disturbed. However, I'll need to work with you to plan ahead for the best location and times to pump for my other sessions, as I share an office with so-and-so and do not want to disrupt his schedule or miss any important standing meetings." your boss will have a harder time shutting you down or poking a lot of holes in your proposition, as you've narrowed it down to one or two issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/approaching-the-subject-of-pumping-at-work-with-your-boss#post-1065423 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 15:48:46 +0000 mrskc 1065423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>do you get breaks? I get 2 15 minute breaks as well as an hour lunch. So I pump on my 2 breaks... even though it takes longer than 15 minutes. I knew there was an empty office in our building, so I asked if I could use it to pump. At first he was going to have me use his office (no thank you). I would go to her with an idea of where you could pump. Is there a storage closet? Empty office? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/approaching-the-subject-of-pumping-at-work-with-your-boss#post-1065404 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 15:42:56 +0000 78h2o 1065404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm... come to think of it, I never DID ask permission or anything. Oops! Well, I'm glad my boss has never had an issue! I do work for a large company that is probably subject to a bunch of regulations allowing for pumping... Anyway, I have an office with no windows (the first time that's been a good thing!), so I just pumped while I worked. I never really took a lunch before and I continued to not really take a lunch, so I think I was "owed" that time anyway...</p> <p>I don't really have any advice but am wishing you luck! I hope the conversation goes well and you can find a good place to pump. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/approaching-the-subject-of-pumping-at-work-with-your-boss#post-1065383 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 15:32:01 +0000 avivoca 1065383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I don't have a laptop that I can take with me. There is talk of us getting a laptop for our floor, so I might be able to use that.</p> <p>@mediagirl: Family friendliness: We are semi-family friendly. Not a lot of people who work here have small children. The other ladies who pumped work in different departments from me and also work reduced schedules now. My boss (a woman, she's older) was not open to me working from home at all, so I will be in the office 35 hours a week. Now, my officemate does use his lunch break to pick up his son from school/take him home, so I should be able to pump in my office during that time.</p> <p>@dolphin: @locavore_mama: I'm talking with my friend who pumped here for a year (different department, different boss) on options for where I could pump that's not a bathroom. We work in a historic mansion for a historical society, so we don't have a formal conference room that could be used or really a lot of open offices (we're in the middle of a campaign to raise money to expand our campus). Hopefully by broaching the discussion with options, she will be more open to it.</p> <p>As far as using time, I get an hour for lunch, so I wouldn't mind taking a shorter lunch to make up for one pump session. I also get comp time for working events after hours, so that time could be used then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/approaching-the-subject-of-pumping-at-work-with-your-boss#post-1065323 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 15:05:50 +0000 dolphin 1065323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work for a small company too and I just emailed my boss before the end of my maternity leave to let her know that I would like to set up a pumping schedule upon my return to work. I let her know that I can take time out of my lunch or come in early/stay late to make up the time. I don't think having the other guy leave the office will work though because that takes away from his productivity. Just talk to your boss and I'm sure he/she will work with you to figure out the best place for you to take care of business. At my office, my boss set up a "pump station" (comfy chair and table) for me in the conference room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/approaching-the-subject-of-pumping-at-work-with-your-boss#post-1065306 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 14:59:32 +0000 DillonLion 1065306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: haha my boss was adamant that I don't answer phones while pumping. Fine with me! I do try to answer emails and such though as I'm able. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/approaching-the-subject-of-pumping-at-work-with-your-boss#post-1065303 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 14:58:02 +0000 DillonLion 1065303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't make formal arrangements until I was back from maternity leave. But I have my own office so there wasn't much to arrange. Is let him know you are planning to pump and see if he can find an appropriate place for you to do so upon your return. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/approaching-the-subject-of-pumping-at-work-with-your-boss#post-1065299 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 14:57:36 +0000 mediagirl 1065299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is your company family friendly? Is your boss pretty cool about things in general? I work for a very small company and have an office. I told my boss I would like to possibly pump when I got back from maternity leave. When I came back, I came in 2 months after having the baby and talked to him about it. I told him I needed to cover my windows and I would have to close my door 3x/day for 20 - 25 minutes each time. He said, "Okay." He never questioned me. Sometimes I worked while pumping, sometimes I didn't The big thing I made a point of what I would never answer the phone while pumping.</p> <p>"Hello, thank you for calling our company (whomp whomp whomp). How may I help you? (whomp whomp whomp)." :)</p> <p>Just bring it up with your boss and see what he says. It never hurts to ask. Or just tell him your plans and see what his response is! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/approaching-the-subject-of-pumping-at-work-with-your-boss#post-1065287 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 14:53:00 +0000 blackbird 1065287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He will probably ask you about how you will make up the work while you spend 90 min/day pumping. Do you have a laptop you can take with you?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/approaching-the-subject-of-pumping-at-work-with-your-boss#post-1065259 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 14:38:15 +0000 regberadaisy 1065259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would approach your boss with a plan on how often you plan to pump and a solution on where. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/approaching-the-subject-of-pumping-at-work-with-your-boss#post-1065257 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 14:36:33 +0000 avivoca 1065257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in my last month of work before maternity leave, and I'm planning on breastfeeding. Provided that everything works out, I will be pumping when I return to work in January. As background, I work for a small non-profit with around 20 employees and volunteers. I share an office with a guy, and while it would be great to be able to pump in my office, I'm not sure how much he'd appreciate being asked to leave for 20-30 minutes 2-3 times a day or even if it would be allowed. I'm the first person in my department in a very long time to be pregnant. Because of our organizations' small size, we are exempt from laws regarding FMLA and the FLSA breaktime requirement if it would cause 'undue hardship.'</p> <p>How did you broach the subject of pumping and where you would pump? </p>