It's my 4th day back at work and 4th day pumping. My boss hasn't said a word about my pumping and has actually ignored me most of the week. She's been too busy to meet with me to get me up to speed after my maternity leave. However she has plenty of time to meet with my co worker every day.
Now I've received an email from HR asking me to come discuss my "request for break time to express milk." Request??! I'm already doing it. I'm worried and scared. 
and sad I hate my job and boss and hate being away from my LO.
Pumping (twice) is taking a huge hunk of time out of my day. But it's partially their fault. I'm not allowed to pump in my office so I have to walk across campus and then up three flights of stairs to get to my pumping room. Yesterday I had new shoes on and both heels were bleeding due to my mad dashes from my desk and back.
This is so stressful!!!
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Omg that sucks!!!! Why won't they just let you pump in your office?! Hope the meeting goes well
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Why won't they allow you to pump at your desk? That's stupid.
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I hope it is good news.... That sounds like a pretty terrible set up for you. Pumping is hard, all that other nonsense just makes it worse.
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Oh no!!!! This sounds horrible!!! Print and bring a copy of this with you:
http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs73.htm
HOPEFULLY your company falls within this, and therefore they have to allow you to express milk during the day!
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Hope everything goes well momma. Don't let them make you feel bad.
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I would know and print out the law
http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/breastfeeding-state-laws.aspx -
Omgosh that's horrible! I would most definitely have your states laws with you when you meet with them & definitely advocate for yourself!
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I'm so sorry. Please let us know how your discussion with HR goes. I'm so sorry your first week back to work is so stressful for you. Hugs.
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That sounds horrible! I hope the meeting goes ok.
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I hope they just want to discuss moving you to pump in your office instead.
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I'm in VA and I know they are required to provide a place, one that isn't a bathroom. I'm betting the time it's taking is the issue. I nurse before I leave for work, at lunch, and as soon as I leave work, so stretching out my work day won't really be an option.
I can't pump at my desk because its just a cubicle Ina very open space. There is one room in our office that is not used 100% of the time and that locks but my boss said no. Before I had the baby she just said I should pump on my lunch break or in the hall storage closet (which has no heat or ac and no lights when the door is closed). She's very uninformed.
HR lady wants to meet tomorrow but I'm trying to get in today so I don't have to worry all night. -
Hall storage closet?!? WHAT?! That's not uninformed - that's insane. Like PPs said, know your state's laws.
Here's the VA-specific law:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=021&typ=bil&val=hj145
AND
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?021+ful+HJ145ERHere's the summary:
RESOLVED FURTHER, That employers also be encouraged to provide reasonable unpaid break time each day to employees who need to breast-feed or express milk for their infant children. Such break time may run concurrently with any break time already provided and provided such activities do not unduly disrupt the operations of the employer. Employers are also encouraged to make reasonable efforts to provide a room or other location, in close proximity to the work area, other than a toilet stall, where the employee can breast-feed or express her milk in privacy; and, be it -
@cmomma17: Oh mama, I'm so sorry your stressing out!! You've got a ton of awesome lawyer moms who posted above that got your back!!
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@cmomma17: I'm really sorry you don't have a more supportive boss. If they talk to you about the time maybe mention how there is an office you could use. I don't see why she won't let you use it.
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Yeah, pretty sure they are in violation of federal law. Go prepared with law in hand! It was super hard for me at work to give up time out of my day to pump (3x), but eventually I stopped feeling bad about it.
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Yeah and a room across campus does not sound like it's in "close Proximity" to your work area.
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Keep us updated! You definitely have the law on your side!
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Your support means a lot ladies! I'll keep you posted!
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Headed up to HR now with the laws fresh in my mind thanks to the link you guys posted
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@cmomma17: ugh how obnoxious! I hope HR is more supportive. Advocate for yourself and lay down the law!!
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Good luck! Keep us updated. I hope they get you in today and ease your mind!
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@cmomma17: Good Luck!
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@cmomma17: Keep us updated! Praying everything goes well for you!
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@cmomma17: let us know how it goes! This is insane and makes me mad when employers aren't understanding of new moms
I think it helps a lot that my boss is a mom of two little kids and said whenever I needed y breaks was fine. I wish it were that easy for everyone!hugs!!!
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I would try turning the meeting around on her. Thank you for wanting to meet with me because I have been meaniny to set up something with you! As you know I just came back from mat leave and walkinh to here to pump is taking a bit out of my day. That unused room in this building would be perfect...
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Good luck! Let us know how it goes!
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@cmomma17: Good luck! Let us know how it goes
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Keep us posted!
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Good luck!!!!
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Oh my word, this is awful... Let us know how you get on. We are all on your side!
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Good luck! It makes me sad that your totally not helpful boss is a woman too
Hope your meeting goes well!
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Oh my goodness, good luck!!
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Thinking good thoughts for you!!
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@cmomma17: good luck! Sending you good vibes!! I'm an HR person and we sometimes get a bad reputation bc some people are a-holes. I'm hoping you have good people!!!
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So stressful!
thinking of you!
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What?? That's nuts. I felt bad about how much time I was taking off to pump when I went back to work (3-4 times each day), but my boss never said a word. I hope everything goes smoothly for you!!
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@cmomma17: Good luck!!! Hope everything goes smoothly! *hug*
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Good luck!
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Yep. My boss complained about the time I take to pump. It's "not fair to other people." I have to either use vacation time (which I currently have none as I used it all up for maternity leave, and earn a measly 7 hrs per month anyways), or work longer days to make up the time. I'm stressed about longer days because I nurse right before I leave, at lunch and right when I get home. If I'm away from the baby longer I would have to pump MORE. Do I pump all night at home? on weekends?
I hate that I have such an unsupportive office and boss. When I was pregnant (third trimester) she had me work 19 consecutive days! Standing on my feet for 5 hours on weekends doing training. She expects me to stay late, come in early, etc. It's so not family friendly. I really dreaded coming back.
I insisted on a room closer to my office so I don't have to waste time walking uphill across campus and then up and down three flights of stairs. HR is going to work on that.
I also asked for a SPECIFIC NUMBER in regards to the time I am taking. She kept saying "if you take too much time ...." Well I want to know EXACTLY how much time is too much time. 30 minutes? 15 minutes? an hour?
I'm trying so hard to feed my child. And I work my ass off while I am at my desk! My work will not suffer because I pump, if anything I am motivated to work harder and be more efficient.
Sad. day.
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