Spoke to my GM about breastfeeding policy today...

[~Boudicca~]

...and it went great!

I work in a fine dining restaurant in CT and participated in the Applebee's nurse-in this weekend. The whole Applebee's thing made me wonder: Does my management team as well as the rest of the staff know what our state laws are regarding NIP?

So I spoke to my GM about it today. I feel totally comfortable presenting mom-related stuff to her; she is a business woman through and through but she comes from a family of 13! kids and is totally supportive of me and other moms on staff. I explained the Applebee's fiasco and how it generated public support, and asked her if our management team knew what the public policy is regarding NIP, and she said she didn't know. But she wants me to write up a summary for her along with links to our state laws along with other breastfeeding info so she can talk to our management team and the rest of the staff so they can be in the know. She was really happy that I brought it up, and was really pleased that it got such a positive reception.

I feel like I did something really good today!

[lml41981]

Way to go! Maybe you could also get a BF-friendly decal, slip it in there and say that displaying it on the door will help make customers aware that you are a family-friendly establishment in the truest sense of the word.

[~Boudicca~]

Originally Posted by lml41981

Way to go! Maybe you could also get a BF-friendly decal, slip it in there and say that displaying it on the door will help make customers aware that you are a family-friendly establishment in the truest sense of the word.

I was actually considering this.

I am so psyched!

[lml41981]

In case you don't have it handy at the very moment, here is your state's excellent BF protection statutes!

SUMMARY OF ENACTED BREASTFEEDING LEGISLATION
CONNECTICUT

In 1997, Connecticut enacted a law that prohibits any person from restricting or limiting the right of a mother to breastfeed her child. In 2001, a law was enacted with provides that employees can express breast milk or breastfeed on the job during meal or break periods, and that employers must make reasonable efforts to provide a place nearby the work area that is not a toilet stall to express milk in private as long as it would not impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-64, and § 53-34b
1997 Ct. ALS 210; 1997 Ct. P.A. 210; 1997 Ct. SB 260

Section 46a-64 provides: (Formerly Sec. 53-35). Discriminatory public accommodations practices prohibited.
(a) It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section ... (3) for a place of public accommodation, resort or amusement to restrict or limit the right of a mother to breast-feed her child; ... (c) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or both.

§ 53-34b. Deprivation of the right to breast-feed one's child.
No person may restrict or limit the right of a mother to breast-feed her child.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-40w
2001 Ct. ALS 182; 2001 Ct. P.A. 182; 2001 Ct. HB 5656

(a) Any employee may, at her discretion, express breast milk or breastfeed on site at her workplace during her meal or break period.
(b) An employer shall 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 express her milk in private.
(c) An employer shall not discriminate against, discipline or take any adverse employment action against any employee because such employee has elected to exercise her rights under subsection (a) of this section.
(d) As used in this section, "employer" means a person engaged in business who has one or more employees, including the state and any political subdivision of the state; "employee" means any person engaged in service to an employer in the business of the employer; "reasonable efforts" means any effort that would not impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer's business; and "undue hardship" means any action that requires significant difficulty or expense when considered in relation to factors such as the size of the business, its financial resources and the nature and structure of its operation.

http://www.llli.org/Law/Bills12.html

[Googy]

Wow! That is so fabulous! You should be really proud of yourself!

[krystyn33]

Great job!

[velcromom]

That's excellent! You might find this article helpful, it was written to help businesses handle NIP complaints.

[jaxxy]

you rock!

[~Boudicca~]

Originally Posted by velcromom

That's excellent! You might find this article helpful, it was written to help businesses handle NIP complaints.

Ooh, thank you!