Olive Garden asks BF mom to cover up

[Mama Khi]

nak

I didn't see this posted.
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Olive Garden asks breast-feeding mom to cover up

Aug. 20: An Indiana Olive Garden asks a breast-feeding mother to cover up. WNDU's Alana Greenfogel reports.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540...91087#32491087
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The manager's response infuriated me! I am thinking of e-mailing their corporate HQ. I certainly don't feel like eating at an OG ever again especially since I am now a nursing mom.

[~LadyBug~]

I am angry and saddened by this I wonder if people were really complaining or the manager just made that an excuse

[Poodge]

: Thankfully I strongly dislike OG food. Maybe someone should complain to the manager about that.

[Sandstress]

By the way she was nursing on the interview, I'm not sure what they mean by "modest."

Honestly, every one of these threads makes me want to just stay home.

[AFWife]

*sighs*

I'm guessing she may have been nursing top down (like she was in the interview) and that's the "modest" thing. My in-laws have made similar comments to me when I've NIP top down (it was easier in the tank I was wearing)

It just irritates me. If she'd been wearing a low cut halter top or a tube top or something (probably showing more skin than when she nursed) no one would have said a word.

I nursed at Sea World this weekend and got a few stares and irritated glances...but no one said a word to the girls running around in bikini tops and shorts. (I was, for the record, wearing a modest tank top)

[listipton]

WOW! I was a manager for Darden Restaurants (Olive Garden's parent company) for close to 6 years (Smokey Bones for 4 and Og for 1 3/4 years) and this is NOT something they support!! I guarantee that the PR offices in Orlando are insanely angry at the GM that made the call to ask her to leave. I encourage anyone to email Darden because they really take things like that seriously and were very pro-breastfeeding while I was working for them.

Unfortunately, many restaurants are in areas where bfing is not the norm I'm sorry that the mom in the interview was asked to leave. It never would have happened in my restaurant.

https://www.olivegarden.com/company/...s/Default.asp?

[listipton]

Consider OG officially emailed.

[jimblejamble]

"Children were in the room."

Heaven forbid!!!

"If she had been more modest..."

Well, then I hope they also ask women in tank-tops, short-shorts/mini skirts, and guys with pants belted at the knees to cover up or leave too.

[Minarai]

I'm adding Olive Garden to my boycott list now, even though I don't live anywhere near where this happened.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by JessicaRenee

Well, then I hope they also ask women in tank-tops, short-shorts/mini skirts, and guys with pants belted at the knees to cover up or leave too.

Exactly. Either have a dresscode posted or butt out

[~LadyBug~]

I emailed them

[kcstar]

That happened to me at an Outback Steakhouse a year ago. You might notice that restaurants tend to put families all in one section of the restaurant. Well, they did that to us, so we were in plain view of a table where two women and their six children were eating, and DS got hungry. So I nursed him. I noticed the two boys (~6-8 yo or so) kinda laughing, and a few minutes later the waitress came over and said "I know this is a delicate subject, but you are breastfeeding and there are children present."

I had a blanket in the diaper bag, so I got that, but I was not particularly happy.

[indie]

Originally Posted by kcstar

the waitress came over and said "I know this is a delicate subject, but you are breastfeeding and there are children present."

That's the hilarious quote of the day. There normally is at least one child present during breastfeeding. Most women don't go around nursing adults.

[Pogo0685]

Originally Posted by indie

That's the hilarious quote of the day. There normally is at least one child present during breastfeeding. Most women don't go around nursing adults.

... Thank you for that laugh!

And I just e-mailed them

[CEVmommy]

Ugh, that' s sad. I've breastfed in lots of OG restaurants and never had a problem, so I think it's probably just this manager and not a corporate issue. Am I right? Has there been any comment from corporate?

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by kcstar

the waitress came over and said "I know this is a delicate subject, but you are breastfeeding and there are children present."

Originally Posted by indie

That's the hilarious quote of the day. There normally is at least one child present during breastfeeding. Most women don't go around nursing adults.

I think an appropriate answer is "yes, I only nurse my CHILD; I don't nurse adults (look at person as if there is something VERY wrong with them)."

[Ellen Griswold]

nak

I'm the next county over. I'd love to go and see what happens. Breastfeeding is NOT the norm around here. And breastfeeding a toddler? Gasp!!

[zensven42]

Please keep in mind that it is unlikely that Darden has any policy regarding women nursing in their stores, and could benefit more from education in this matter, rather than boycotting and flaming emails. I have reported this matter to Firstright, a wonderful organization. If you would like to flex your lactivist muscles and help further the cause, Firstright would be a great vehicle through which to do so. Could always use some more members!

On a personal note, I ate at the OG today, and nursed my 2 1/2 yo. When the waitress brought a box for leftovers and noticed me nursing, she offered to pack my food for me, as I had my hands full. Maybe they always offer for everyone, nursing or not, I don't know. Either way, I was very pleased with her response. It would be nice to help Darden institute a policy to protect nursing mothers in their establishments, and they may be happy to do so. I suppose we shall see.

[ashleyhaugh]

yeah ive never had a problem nursing in olive garden either (or red lobster, which i think is the same company)

sounds like the manager had issues

[medaroge]

I have breastfeed in Olive Garden with no issues, in fact, one time I overheard a nearby table complain to the waitress, but she kindly told them that if they didnt like the table they were at she would be happy to move THEM to another table.