Writing a letter to my employer's corporate office - what to say?

[minkajane]

I work for Cracker Barrel. I have noticed since I started that there are no locations that would be suitable for pumping in the entire restaurant. The breakroom is open, uncomfortable, and has no outlets. The bathrooms are dirty and there's nowhere to sit but on the toilet. The offices have big windows on the doors, except the one in the retail section, which I haven't been in. I brought up the issue at a new employee meeting today. The manager was completely confused when I asked about breastfeeding policies and said she had never heard of such a thing, but that if Ohio passed a law requiring it, Cracker Barrel would certainly comply.

I want to write to the corporate office encouraging them to adopt breastfeeding policies and make available locations for employees to pump besides their cars or dirty bathrooms. I definitely won't be coming back to this job after DF and I have a baby, because no way would I be able to pump.

What would you say in the letter? Who would you address it to?

[minkajane]

Hello?

[meganmarie]

Have you seen the article in the most recent Mothering print magazine about establishing breastfeeding support policies at your workplace? It would be perfect for you! Lots of great suggestions in there about how to get a program going at your company. You could probably find good ideas for your letter in there.

They suggest for example that you point out how allowing moms to pump can reduce absenteeism because babies fed breastmilk instead of formula have fewer illnesses that require parents to stay home. Another point they might like is suggesting that such a policy will increase retention - which lowers recruiting and training costs. The point is to frame it in such a way that they see the benefit to the company's bottom line.

Also, you need to make concrete proposals (what should they do at each restaurant?) and try to give estimates about how little it would cost to implement them. For example, exisitng break times could be combined and used for pumping; reserving a private office for moms and perhaps pg or sick employees who need a private break (A "wellness room" rather than a "lactation room") would cost nothing; putting a curtain over the office window would cost $20; putting a sign on the door would cost $10; installing a lock would cost $60; etc.

It works really well if you can get a few other employees to join together with you to sign the letter, or if you can calculate the number of employees that would benefit from this (how many women work there? what % are moms?). That way it seems like a bigger more meaningful issue to address.

Finally, if you offer to take point on some things yourself - for example "I am happy to lead or join a corporate committee that would explore this issue" or "I would be pleased to establish a pilot program here at our Ohio restaurant so corporate could evaluate the costs and benefits"

Your letter should be directed to the corporate office head of HR, perhaps the head of diversity or recruiting if you have one, and the head of store operations.

Hope this helps. How great that you are doing this! Please let us know how it goes!

[~Megan~]

When I was in college there was a training room. I think it did have a window in the door which could easily be covered with a curtain.

I certainly don't see them adding anything on to their restaurants to make breastfeeding work though.

Will they even accomidate your longer breaks? I hardly ever got a break or lunch when I worked there which simply is the nature of working in a restaurant.