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Yeah, that is all a bunch of bull. Don't let them defeat you. Everything pp's say I agree with--start a paper trail, document, etc.
One thing--would you be able to just pump extra at work during your lunch instead of going home to nurse? That might be a good way of letting HR know, okay--I'll give up doing this one thing--but they need to cut you some slack in a HUGE way. -
I am so freaking angry for you that I want to punch someone!
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I'm so sorry you're going through this! I think you've gotten amazing suggestions, but if I think of any others I'll come back and post. **hugs**
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To call you in and not provide a solution is a sucker move. Booo
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Ahhhh this is terrible!!
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I was thinking this, too...there was no point in this meeting, other than to make her feel bad.
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@cmomma17: I'm so sorry you're going through this. I hope you can get it all figured out!
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@cmomma17: No advice here, just offering some virtual support. Good luck.
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Put this in writing, and send an EMAIL to your HR person saying, "please confirm that this is what was detailed during our meeting today..." So that it is in an email format. In the email i would also outline the laws that are on your side, and that you are trying your best to ensure there is no loss in productivity by coming in early.
I am pretty livid that your boss is behaving this way. She obviously never had kids.
Sometimes i get so mad when i hear about employers in the US. It sometimes seems like it doesn't matter what laws are in place to protect moms.
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I would look into the laws in your state regarding paid breaks. Not specifically for pumping mothers, but just the required employee break time. I am pretty sure that it’s required by law – not sure if federal or state specific. I get a paid 10 minute break for each 4 hours worked for all employees scheduled over 8 hours per day. This is at an office job, but even when I was a waitress the law required that we have breaks (which actually made me lose money!) during our shift.
If that is the case the 20 or so minutes of required paid break time would almost cover one pumping session.
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I can not believe this. Just awful.
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I have no advice but I'm pissed reading this. What jerks!!
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I don't know how this changes things but I am salaried, not hourly.
I don't want to be forced to use vacation time to pump. Because then I would have no vacation time to spend with my family!!!
I feel discriminated against, especially since this is not a university wide policy. It is just what my boss wants done to me. I am going to try my best to find some examples of other women there who have pumped and not been penalized.
DH called a friends mom who is a long time employee at the same place and she said I should go to the president as well.
So tomorrow the plan is to email HR asking for clarification (creating a written record), asking for follow up, etc. and then emailing the president to ask for a meeting with her as well.
I'll also start documenting the times I arrive and leave work and how long I am gone to pump.One good point was brought up. Before I left for maternity leave, I met with my boss and hr and made my intention to pump clear. Everyone was fine with it and the only issue ever discussed was a location. Now I'm being told its a compensation issue?
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I would document your activities for a week, just to have a record of when you are at your desk, on breaks whatever. I would also make a list of all your tasks/projects and document how you spend your time to complete them. I would also document what work you've asked others to complete for you, or not.
It is not clear to me from your posts what kind of work you do, but it shouldn't really make a difference.
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No advice, but sounds like you have a good plan in place!! I like others am furious on your behalf!! This is so unfair and I'm sorry you're dealing with this!
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No advice, but this is horrible. So sorry you are dealing with this!
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Wow. I have to say, some women bosses are the worst!! It's a power trip. Men are SO much more relaxed and accommodating. What a friggn bitch! Good luck and I hope u get everything resolved!
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@looch: I agree with this. They are well within their bounds to require you to be at your desk for work time and require you to either take leave or reduced salary for extra "break time". If you are arriving 15 minutes early I would document that. It's discrimination because they aren't tracking the few minutes you boss is late and the long lunches she takes. But they are within their rights to require you to work the full 8 hours.
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@cmomma17: So there are some things to think about. Salaried may or may not matter. It depends on if your are FLSA exempt or nonexempt. If you are nonexempt then all of the laws are on your side, but your pay could be docked for not enough time (you are paid by the hour so the minutes matter). If you are exempt than the ObamaCare law doesn't apply BUT as exempt they CANNOT dock your pay as long as you do something in the week. They can make a big deal out of time etc but other than firing you they can't do anything.
Are you unioned? Do you have a contract? Those would be two other places that may help you.
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@cmomma17: I just saw this, and this is completely ridiculous. I'm so sorry. You're on campus, right? I bet there might be an ombudsman that you can talk to, as well. I'm pretty sure all campuses have to have some sort of institutional equity office-I would ABSOLUTELY go talk to them, too. See if they can hook you up with other people who have come up with solutions to this problem.
Also, don't assume they won't try to ignore your rights under the law about this. It sounds like they already are. I came from a campus that was blatently ignoring women's rights about pregnancy (you could lose your scholarship if you became pregnant), and it went on for YEARS. Hang in there. This is your right do to!
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This is so infuriating! I really hope the president accepts your request to meet. You would think that as a woman herself the president would support your needs. At a minimum, I'd think she wouldn't want it to escalate into a discrimination issue and would be willing to find a solution that works for everyone. Best of luck!
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@looch: I'm in an academic support office and my main responsibility is the tutoring program. I do a million other random things like maintain our website, order all the office supplies, supervise and do payroll for student employees, etc.
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@Freckles: she definitely doesn't have kids, and isn't married.
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@brownie: no union and no contract.
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I agree with the advice to document everything. If you get a meeting with someone outside/above HR and your boss, I would go armed with evidence that you are a stellar employee--past reviews, emails from clients that liked what you did, dates of bonuses, etc. Make the business case for accommodating your reasonable request for time to pump. I would hold off on suggesting that you've been discriminated against (although it sounds like they're getting comfortable with doing that), because going nuclear just doesn't promote reasoned thought on their part, you know? There has to be a human with a heartbeat there. Or at least I hope there is!
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I hope you get everything worked out. This pisses me off!
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I agree with @honeybear! Would start with a business case and go from there.
In a standard day, how many hours are you able to work and be productive? How does that compare to your peers?
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@T.H.O.U.: I don't want to be paid for not working. That's not the issue. I do feel I am being treated unfairly when compared to my co workers and compared to other pumping moms at the university. Does that make sense?
This is not a company wide policy.
I am also upset that this was thrown on me on my 4th day back when it was never brought up previously during any of the discussions I had with my boss or HR. -
@honeybear: I have been at my job for over a year now and my boss has never given me an evaluation/review. They should occur every six months. Another example of the kind of boss she is. No raises either unfortunately, none for anyone. I do get your point though.
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@SLR: I'm confident the president will meet with me I'm just not sure how soon. She's an awesome lady and has three kids herself. I spoke with a co worker friend today who told me the president is a huge breastfeeding advocate and should be very supportive.
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@mrbee: I am scheduled for seven hour days, but often am there early and late and I have also worked many weekends. Weekends were training sessions I conducted and late/early happens a lot because I proctor exams, work with orientation and other events, etc. my boss is never in the office at 9 am and I often cover for her when she is late for meetings.
I don't think I'd want to get into pointing out what my boss or other co workers do though. I think it would be best to focus on the treatment of all employees across the board who pump at work.My boss will often let us leave early on slow days. I don't use vacation time to cover that half hour of lost office time, I have a million examples like that driving me crazy.
I get my work done. I'm not asking for outrageous special treatment.
This is all made worse by already having a poor relationship with my boss.
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I think the president is the way to go! If not I'd even consider contacting some breastfeeding organizations to ask for help. I don't know if this is so extreme but going public could have a big effect.
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@tequiero21: this could be why I've been with my boss for 7 years. Working was harder when pumping, but he handled it well.
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@sloaneandpuffy: my concern with meeting with the president is retaliation from the boss. There's a possibility that her boss could make her life hell. She needs to research the university's policies on it.
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@cascademom: yeah, that's why I don't want to be anyone's boss. I know I'd be a hard ass boss. And I don't want to be, u know? Although, I'd definitely be understanding re new mom and her needs. But then, she's not a mom, so that's even worse!
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Something to note: there was recently a court decision (fifth circuit) that said that lactation discrimination is a form of pregnancy discrimination under title 7. So, if others aren't being held to the same break schedule, it could be illegal.
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@brownie: good to know! Any idea where I could find that in more detail?
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@cascademom: my life is already hell (at work). What do I have to lose? The president spoke to us at our last full staff meeting about how proud she was for having a family friendly workplace, encouraged everyone to be supportive of pregnant co workers, etc.
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@cmomma17: I'm proud of you for sticking up for yourself, as you should. I'm sorry this is the situation you are in but I'm hoping it resolves quickly and without too much more stress. You are a great mama.
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http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130626-907552.html
http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/35790/eeoc-persuades-court-that-lactation-discrimination-is-gender-bias
http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20130531/NEWS07/130539944?tags=|70|75|339|303
http://www.bna.com/fifth-circuit-says-n17179874434/
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312 comments