The Law Doesn't Require It

[CanidFL]

I am so bummed this morning. I can’t go into much detail but my job gave me the ability to try and get a company to put a “wellness” room in a new facility that will hold close to 300 people. I was calling it a wellness room so I didn’t scare them off I did throw the phrase pumping moms a few times and made a joke that I pumped in a storage closet for a year and how nice it would have been to have such a place to go. All the people I work with are female so I felt pretty comfy bringing this up thinking they would understand.

I just got the final word back and they said something along the lines of “we strongly feel this room is not required. We are not aware of any law in the State that requires such a room”.

I am soooo upset by this. What is wrong with people in this country? This particular facility has NO private areas except the bathrooms so I guess that is where their pumping moms will be forced to. Or they will just not pump at all because who will go to a bathroom and pump unless you are 120% dedicated to nursing.

::

There isn't much I can do at this point since the decision is final but I just needed to vent.

[gratefulstella]

That totally stinks mama! Sorry to hear about that. I am in the military and luckily I work in an office that is sort of secluded from too much people traffic but I still won't have a designated area to pump...I'm glad they "allow" pumping (as if it should be something to get permission for) but I do wish they had a designated area. Even if it were in another building that would be nice...but I am lucky- I won't have to do it in a closet or a bathroom. Worst case scenerio I would take over someone's office! I'm pretty demanding though...

[Swan3]

Hmmmm....have you checked into the laws yourself? Maybe there's one on the verge of being passed? I'd chase this one down!

[nukedwifey]

Have you considered talking to your Representative to try to get one passed?

[ErikaS57]

Definitely look into any laws that might pass or didn't pass in recent years. They're a good indication of potential future legislation. If anyone is trying to get a "pumping at work" law passed, then you could suggest to your company that they start making plans now so they can be compliant when such a law does pass.

[grahamsmom98]

Well, if it is a new facility (being built, right?), and they won't go for your wellness room, why not INSIST on making the women's restroom the creme de la creme?

It should be big enough to hold a couch and a table with a lamp.

Dh works for a Federal agancy and the women's room at his office is plush. There is a couch and a rocker. A table big enough for changing a baby (not fancy, but heavy-duty and washable) and a side table with magazines (and underneath storage for feminine products and antibacterial wipes). There's a lamp on the side table with a dimmer switch. It has a full-length mirror on one wall and posters on the others. There are three toilet stalls along with the two sinks.

Most of the time, they use the lamp to illuminate the bathroom (saves on energy costs) and nobody minds the subdued lighting. A number of the gals use it during their breaks if they are having cramps (not so much anymore, most are going menopausal now ). But, still in all, it is a nice place if someone needs to escape and cool down if they have had a rough moment in the workplace!

This bathroom is immaculate (the whole building is). Honestly, it wouldn't have bothered me to use it if I had had the need when ds was small and I stopped by to see dh.

I do know that, in the past, there were a couple of Moms that used it for pumping (nobody cared about their nursing at their desks, it is a very breastfeeding-friendly office). For pumping, it was better to use the women's room for privacy.

There is a new gal that just joined this office. She is expecting a late-December baby. She'll take three months off and then bring baby to work for 3 months (they can bring babies to work for their first 6 months of age). After that, she is planning on pumping, as well as visiting the baby at the daycare, just a block away, to nurse when she can.

So, maybe you could approach them with an idea like this and it would work. Depending on the size of the company (and this one sounds large), I can actually understand not having a separate room just for nursing/pumping Moms (unless there are many that work there). But, that certainly doesn't mean you can't request one!! And, after the facility is complete, chances are there will be at least one empty office/area that you could ask to be used to this purpose, as it is needed.

[julie128]

Originally Posted by CanidFL

I just got the final word back and they said something along the lines of “we strongly feel this room is not required. We are not aware of any law in the State that requires such a room”.

required by law is not the same thing as required by common decency. ask again, and contact your state representatives.

[MaryJaneLouise]

Check out this thread.

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...459&highlight=

It's got good resources for arguing FOR accomodating pumping moms at work. Maybe that will work better than "you gotta because the law says so."

[langyork]

I would write a short letter:

Where are breastfeeding mothers supposed to pump? This new facility does not promote that. The bathroom is not acceptable to pump in. Please consider this request before building so as to troubleshoot any problems that will arise from employees who will NEED to pump in privacy. Pumping will be a necessity for some employees.

Requst again, don't demand.

[Nautical]

I agree with the pp; are there any pending laws in your state? I would imagine it would be a lot easier to set aside a space now as opposed to trying to retrofit the building to accomodate a lacation space should a law pass.