told to move while nursing at former workplace (sorry Long0

[tbone_kneegrabber]

Hi, I attended a play today at the school that I used to work out before my ds was born. I sat in the back, in the corner, so in case he was fussy, or wanted to nurse we would not distract any of the kids in the play. The Human Resources person came up to me during the play and told me "If you are going to breastfeed, please go in another room, you can use so and so's office."

Now, I've been waiting since before my son was born, for someone to tell me to move so that I would get to freak out on them and demand to talk their boss or something like that. But here I was at the place where I used to work, where I may want to go back to work, where I at least need a letter of recommendation from when I go to work somewhere else, and I was being told to move.

I wasn't going to make a scene during a play, that wouldn't be fair to the kids performing. Normally, I would advocate sending a letter including the breast feeding laws of the state and city (I live in Philadelphia and we have a city ordiance protecting breastfeeding), but I don't want to burn this bridge, I need it in the future.

Also, its an "approved private school" meaning its a private school, but it serves "multiply disabled" students and so they get state and federal money. I don't even know if I was protected by the laws when I was in the school.

My ds is 9 months old and I have been visiting the school since he was born and I always nurse him. I don't know if people have complained about me before, it this was just the HR person personal thing, if it was because there was this play going on with kids from another school envolved too.

Should I write a letter, should I suck it up because I may need to go back and work there? Advice?

[PassionateWriter]

do not ignore it
..its illegal

[Sandstress]

If I were in your situation, and were serious about working there again, I would approach that HR person individually and let her know in a very friendly, educational, somewhat protective (Hey! I wanted to let you know before someone else did...) kind of way that was she did was against the law. That way, you're looking out for the team. Or something.

[mamajake]

It might be enough to tell them about the law and that the law applies to them. See http://www.phila.gov/philacode/html/...initions_.html

(u) Public Accommodation, Resort or Amusement. Any accommodation, resort or amusement which is open to, accepts or solicits the patronage of the general public, including but not limited to inns, taverns, roadhouses, hotels, motels whether conducted for the entertainment of transient guests or for the accommodation of those seeking health related services, recreation, or restaurants or eating houses, or any place where food is sold for consumption on the premises, buffets, saloon barrooms or any store, park or enclosure where spirituous or malt liquors are sold, ice cream parlors, confectioneries, soda fountains and all stores where ice cream, ice and fruit preparations or their derivatives, or where beverages of any kind are retailed for consumption on the premises, drug stores, dispensaries, clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, substance-abuse treatment or rehabilitation programs, ambulance services, health care providers’ professional offices, bathhouses, swimming pools, barber shops, beauty parlors, retail stores and establishments, theaters, motion picture houses, airdomes, roof gardens, music halls, race courses, skating rinks, amusement and recreation parks, fairs, bowling alleys, gymnasiums, shooting galleries, billiard and pool parlors, public libraries, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, high school, academies, colleges and universities, extension courses and all educational institutions, mortuaries and funeral parlors, non-sectarian cemeteries, garages and all public conveyances operated on land or water or in the air as well as the stations, terminals and airports, financial institutions and all City facilities and services but not any accommodations which are in their nature distinctly private. No entity covered by this definition shall invoke its private character for the purpose of excluding or discriminating against any member of a group protected under this Chapter.[650]

emphasis mine, and http://www.phila.gov/philacode/html/...c_Accommo.html

(A) It shall be an unlawful public accommodations practice:

...

(c) Prohibit a breastfeeding mother from or segregate a breastfeeding mother within any public accommodation where she would otherwise be authorized to be, irrespective of whether or not the nipple of the mother’s breast is covered during or incidental to breastfeeding.

[Equuskia]

I would recommending talking to them and showing them the law. Next time, someone may decide to either sue them or publicly humiliate them on the media.

[nataliebassoon]

Originally Posted by Sandstress

If I were in your situation, and were serious about working there again, I would approach that HR person individually and let her know in a very friendly, educational, somewhat protective (Hey! I wanted to let you know before someone else did...) kind of way that was she did was against the law. That way, you're looking out for the team. Or something.

I think that's a great way to approach it!