Pumping at work and the law - question for NC moms

[gemasita]

I thought some of the experienced nursing moms might know the answer to this already - I do not. A childbirth instructor in Charlotte that I know was asking this question:

One of my students is having a difficult time finding a comfortable and private place to pump when she returns to work. She will be going back to work about 8 weeks postpartum so she will be pumping several times throughout the day. So far she has been offered the pantry which is used for meetings frequently and not very private and the bathroom, where she will have to sit on a little wooden bench near the showers. Does anyone know according to North Carolina laws what does the workplace have to provide in this regard? Those options are not desirable for this mom, for obvious reasons. If nothing else is offered or provided what would be her recourse?

[pinky]

I'm sorry to say that NC has no legal protection for breastfeeding mothers in the workplace.

There are materials out there designed for mothers to share with their employers, talking about the bottom-line benefits of supporting breastfeeding mothers (fewer sick days, etc.). Maybe on the LLL website? I can look around if you want, or she can contact LLL in Charlotte--there are a lot of good leaders there.

[gemasita]

Thanks pinky. I'll tell her to contact a local LLL leader.