[soccerchic21]

So I am sure you all know about what happened to me at Worksource. Well yesterday when I went into work a manager told me that the store manager asked her to tell me to pump in his office from now on. UGH!!! So I told her that he would actually be breaking the law by making me go somewhere I have every right to pump where I am allowed to be.

Here is a copy of the letter I am sending him

Dear Chris,

Barb mentioned to me on Saturday June 5th when I came into work that you had asked her to tell me to pump in your office from now on. I am not sure if you are aware of the law in the state of Washington but you cannot "tell" me to pump somewhere. I am protected by law to breastfeed or pump anywhere I am allowed to be, which would be the employee break room.

Barb had mentioned that you thought that I would feel more comfortable in your office and that she didn't think that anyone had complained to you about it. I know you just have the best intentions and I do appreciate the offer, however, I am completely comfortable in the employee break room and would rather pump in there. I do not want to isolate myself on my breaks just because I am pumping breast milk. It actually does not help me pump more, as I would just be focusing on the pumping. Being in the break room helps to get more milk as I can be distracted and talk to other people.

Also, I have given a copy of the state law protecting breastfeeding and pumping mothers from the La Leche League International website it can also be found on the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington website, just in case any other employees have complained they can be referred to the law. It might also be a great item to bring up at the all store meeting next weekend. There might be some other breastfeeding mothers that are unsure of the law and could really benefit from knowing that they too can pump in the break room.

In addition to the law I have given you a copy from ProMom.org that states 101 reasons to breastfeed. You see to me I don't have a choice to breastfeed it is something that I have to do for the health of my child. My daughter also has allergic reactions to a lot of solid foods and cows milk and so it is crucial that I pump as much as I can at work so that my husband will have milk to give her while I am gone. So we are not able to give her formula even if I chose to stop breastfeeding, which is never going to be an option. If I don't pump I could also risk losing my milk supply. In addition to these reasons my daughter has an extreme case of kidney reflux that she has had since birth. Breast milk is the best thing for this problem and I think will help in battling her reflux and making her as healthy as possible. I hope that this information proves to be helpful.

Again, I appreciate the offer but I would prefer to pump in the break room.

Thank you,

Sarah Brown

 

[Janice in Canada]

does the law really protect pumping anywhere, too? I didn't know that.

I've never pumped so I am ignorant about it. In my mind, I can't imagine doing it in a public place, but as I said, I am totally ignorant as to the equipment, procedure and noise involved.

Janice

 

[kimberlylibby]

I am all about advocating for yourself....

However, can I suggest something? The general tone of your letter is very defensive and might not get you what you are desiring from your boss.

If you approach things more lightheartedly and less "attack mode" it might help him be more yielding to you.

Just a thought!

 

[soccerchic21]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice in Canada does the law really protect pumping anywhere, too? I didn't know that. I've never pumped so I am ignorant about it. In my mind, I can't imagine doing it in a public place, but as I said, I am totally ignorant as to the equipment, procedure and noise involved. Janice

Yes Washington state law protects breastfeeding and pumping.

 

[soccerchic21]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimberlylibby I am all about advocating for yourself.... However, can I suggest something? The general tone of your letter is very defensive and might not get you what you are desiring from your boss. If you approach things more lightheartedly and less "attack mode" it might help him be more yielding to you. Just a thought!

Whoops too late I already delivered the letter :LOL

 

[eclipse]

:LOL

sorry, that whoops just struck my funny bone.

 

[Pam_and_Abigail]

soccerchic, I think you're probably a bit defensive because of your "other" situation. If your boss seems offended, maybe bring up that you may have overreated a bit due to violations of your bf rights and laws in another situation.
it sucks that you have to fight so much for this.

(song in my head: "you gotta fight. For your right. To breeeeeeast-feed!" I don't know who the original is by.

 

[soccerchic21]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pam_and_Abigail (song in my head: "you gotta fight. For your right. To breeeeeeast-feed!" I don't know who the original is by.

:LOL It is a beastie boys song

 

[Sustainer]

I thought the letter was fine. It just really infuriates me that you have to defend your need to pump to this guy. It is none of his business! He was totally out of line telling you where to pump. I hope your letter makes him ashamed of the very idea that he thought it was his place to say something.

 

[soccerchic21]

So this ended up being a stupid misunderstanding and I blame it on the sender. He talked to me and was totally nice and said that he was in no way "telling" me to use his office. He heard that I was pumping not because someone complained but it just came up in a conversation with a coworker and he thought that I would rather pump in his office.

He agreed that the way it was told to me was in no way how he meant it at all. He also said that his wife pumps at work.

So I told him my concerns about being interrupted and having a sign up. So we made a sign that says office in use do not disturb. I pumped in his office on my break and got more milk than I usually do.

Plus the last time I worked there were some not so positive comments made by other co workers in the break room, women at that, so it is just as well that I go in his office. I just like socializing but I guess I can get over that.

So he really did have the best of intentions the lady who sent the message just didn't do a very good job at all.

 

[Sustainer]

So he said someone got the message wrong, and that he was just offering his office, and that it was fine if you wanted to still do it in the break room? But then, what, he convinced you to use his office anyway? I'm glad you ended up getting more milk, but what made you change your mind about where you wanted to do it? The negative comments? You just seemed so sure of wanting to pump in the break room before...

(I'm just curious. I don't want this post to come across the wrong way...)

 

[soccerchic21]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbf So he said someone got the message wrong, and that he was just offering his office, and that it was fine if you wanted to still do it in the break room? But then, what, he convinced you to use his office anyway? I'm glad you ended up getting more milk, but what made you change your mind about where you wanted to do it? The negative comments? You just seemed so sure of wanting to pump in the break room before... (I'm just curious. I don't want this post to come across the wrong way...)

Well the stress from all of this and the lady at WorkSource has really been affecting my supply. Some other people also said that I might be able to get more milk if I had more privacy.

Also on Sunday I was in the break room pumping and the bookkeeper was making some really closeminded remarks about NIP and I kept defending NIP and trying to explain to her another side to see it. I barely got a drop.

The advocate part of me in no way wanted to cave and use the office but the mother part of me said well just try and see how it goes if you get more milk great and actually I let down a lot easier and got more milk so what do you do?

So I am going to use his office from now on. I think that the way the messenger told me completely screwed everything up. I wish he would have just come to me himself and offered.

 

[Sustainer]

I'm so sorry they're making it uncomfortable for you to PIP.